As one of the biggest actors of all time and genuinely one of the funniest men to ever grace the big screen, Jim Carrey has been responsible for making some of the most beloved films of all time. After cutting his teeth in stand-up comedy, Carrey would eventually get the chance to showcase his comedic prowess on In Living Colour, and from there he would develop into a star and amass a huge net worth.
Over the years, Jim Carrey has taken the lead in some hilarious blockbuster films, with some going down as some of the best and most underrated comedies ever . While he is usually at his best when making people laugh, he has shown that he can pull at people’s heartstrings and deliver a captivating performance in roles of all styles. No matter the role, we’re just happy that he is still making movies.
Today, we are going to look at some little-known facts about his biggest roles.
15 Steve Martin Originally Turned Down The Role Of Lloyd In Dumb And Dumber
Dumb and Dumber is easily one of Jim Carrey’s best movies, and many people can still quote the entire thing to this very day. Turns out, comedy legend Steve Martin actually turned down the lead role in the film, according to Vulture. Carrey would take the reins and never look back.
14 His Yellow Suit In The Mask Was Based On His Old Stand-Up Suit
The Mask was one of the films that helped Jim Carrey become a blockbuster sensation, and its iconic yellow suit has an interesting story behind it. According to Famous Actors, the suit was actually modeled after a suit that Carrey’s mother made him for his stand-up comedy in the early years.
13 He Utilized A Catch Phrase From His Comedy Routine For Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
“Alrighty then!” is one of the most famous Jim Carrey character quotes of all time, and people couldn’t stop saying it after watching Ace Ventura: Pet Detective for the first time. Turns out, this phrase was used in his stand-up comedy beforehand, and there are clips on YouTube showing this phrase off.
12 He Took A Huge Pay Cut To Land The Role In The Truman Show
Jim Carrey was rolling in the money back in the day, which means that budgets could go haywire. To keep the budget of The Truman Show reasonable, Jim Carrey would take a decrease in pay, according to Throwbacks. This was an instrumental part in the film being made in the first place.
11 He Saved Jennifer Aniston's Life On The Set Of Bruce Almighty
Bruce Almighty was a huge hit for Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston, but while the pair were filming the movie, Jim actually saved her life! She was nearly taken out by a crane, but he was able to push her out of the way just in time. Talk about good timing.
10 He Accidentally Pulled The Table Cloth Perfectly In How The Grinch Stole Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of the most loved holiday movies in recent memory, and Carrey was brilliant as the infamous Grinch. When he yanks the tablecloth, everything was supposed to fall off, but Carrey did it so well that everything remained in place, according to TV Tropes. He went ahead and messed everything up by hand.
9 Nic Cage Was Approached To Play The Lead In Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a fantastic film that allowed Jim Carrey to show that he was more than just a comedic actor. Before he was cast in this film, the part was offered to Nic Cage, according to Looper. While he would have done well, we can’t help feel that Carrey was the right choice.
8 The Claw Was Something Jim Carrey Got From His Father And Used In Liar Liar
Any person that has ever seen the movie Liar Liar knows all about The Claw! It was one of the funniest and most endearing parts of the film, and Jim Carrey had a personal connection to it. According to AMC, Jim Carrey’s father used to do this to him when he was younger.
7 He Broke Three Ribs While He Was Filming Yes Man
Filming is tough work, and sometimes, things can get out of hand. Yes Man was a solid movie that starred Jim Carrey, and he wound up taking a spill while filming was underway. After incorrectly performing a small stunt, Jim Carrey wound up breaking three ribs! He would eventually recover and finish filming.
6 He Began Dating Renee Zellweger While Filming Me, Myself & Irene
Sometimes, people can find love in the strangest places. Jim Carrey and Renee Zellweger worked together on the film Me, Myself & Irene, and the pair wound up striking up a romance, according to InStyle. Though it would not last, it does add an interesting ripple to their on-screen chemistry.
5 His Salary Was Half The Film's Budget For The Cable Guy
Jim Carrey was turning into giant star in the 90s, and he started to get paid like one. For his role in The Cable Guy, Jim Carrey’s salary was half of the film’s budget, according to the L.A. Times. It wasn’t a huge hit, but that film still has a solid following.
4 He Wanted To Shave A Question Mark Into His Head For Batman Forever
Before Christopher Nolan changed the game with his take on Batman, there were a few 90s releases that tried something different. Jim Carrey was cast as the Riddler in Batman Forever, and he wanted a question mark shaved on his head, according to WhatCulture. Due to a court date, this didn’t happen.
3 He Withdrew His Support Of His Film Kick-Ass 2
Actors can undergo a change in beliefs just like anyone else, and this occurred after Carrey had wrapped up filming on the movie Kick-Ass 2. He took to his personal Twitter account to let people know that he could no longer support the violent nature of the film he had just made.
2 His Daughter's Love Of The Game Led To His Interest In Sonic The Hedgehog
We have seen something like this before, with Raul Julia appearing in Street Fighter, but this is still just a cool fact. Jim Carrey was interested in taking on his role in Sonic thanks to his daughter playing the game when she was growing up, according to Movie Buff. He was perfect as Dr. Robotnik.
1 He Genuinely Scared Kara And Shelby Hoffman In A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Jim Carrey was creepy looking as Count Olaf in the Lemony Snicket film, and he wound up scaring some people while he was on set. The young Kara and Shelby Hoffman were legitimately afraid of him. Carrey would tell BBC, “Yeah, they were terrified. It was very hard to get through that and be mean to them in character.”