Career Timeline of Jim Carrey: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Jim Carrey built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Jim Carrey is a Canadian and American actor and comedian celebrated for his highly energetic and slapstick performances. He has won two Golden Globe Awards and has received nominations for BAFTA Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards, marking him as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
4 hours ago : Jim Carrey's 'Grinch' gets 4K Steelbook release, plus outrageous performance streams on Tubi.
Jim Carrey's outrageous performance lands on Tubi. 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' celebrates its 25th anniversary with a 4K Steelbook release, coming November 11, 2025. Fans eagerly await the release.
1977: First Stand-up Comedy Experience
In 1977, at the age of 15, Jim Carrey had his first stand-up comedy experience at Yuk Yuk's comedy club in Toronto, with his father's help. His act, featuring conventional impersonations, did not go well.
1979: Return to the Stage
In 1979, with more domestic stability, Carrey returned to the stage with a more polished act that led to his first paid gig: a 20-minute spot at the Hay Loft club on Highway 48 in Scarborough for a reported Can$20 compensation.
1980: Audition for Saturday Night Live
In 1980, Jim Carrey auditioned for Saturday Night Live but was not selected.
February 1981: Opening Act for Goddo
In February 1981, Jim Carrey was booked as the opening act for the rock band Goddo at The Roxy Theatre in Barrie. The rock crowd booed him offstage, and he refused to return for the second night.
April 1981: Appearance on An Evening at the Improv
In April 1981, Jim Carrey appeared in an episode of the televised stand-up show "An Evening at the Improv".
September 1981: Debut in Introducing... Janet
In September 1981, Jim Carrey landed one of the main roles in "Introducing... Janet", a made-for-TV movie that premiered on the CBC.
December 1981: Interest from Johnny Carson's Tonight Show
By December 1981, Jim Carrey, already a well-known comic in Canada, was waiting for a United States work permit, having received interest from Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, largely off his reputation from Canada.
June 19, 1982: Sold-Out Shows at Massey Hall
On June 19, 1982, Jim Carrey performed two sold-out shows at Massey Hall in Toronto, marking a stop at home while touring as the opening act for Rodney Dangerfield.
April 1983: Performances at B.B. Magoon's and W5 Feature
In late April 1983, Jim Carrey returned to Toronto to perform at B.B. Magoon's, and CTV's W5 aired a feature on him nationally in Canada.
November 1983: Tonight Show Debut
In late November 1983, Jim Carrey debuted his impressionist act on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as a promotional appearance for the sitcom "The Duck Factory".
January 1984: Scheduled Premiere of The Duck Factory
In January 1984, "The Duck Factory" sitcom was originally scheduled to start airing.
July 1984: Debut on Late Night with David Letterman
In late July 1984, Jim Carrey debuted on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman; by this time, "The Duck Factory" had already been canceled.
November 1985: Release of Once Bitten
In mid November 1985, "Once Bitten" was released and turned out to be a modest box-office hit despite drawing poor reviews.
1986: Audition for SNL
In 1986, Jim Carrey auditioned for Saturday Night Live for the third time, performing for Lorne Michaels, Dennis Miller, Jon Lovitz, and Nora Dunn. However, he was rejected again. Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman, who auditioned alongside Carrey, were hired. Carrey then shifted away from impressions and added observational and character humor to his comedy.
1990: Joins In Living Color
In 1990, Jim Carrey became a regular cast member of the ensemble comedy television series In Living Color.
February 1994: Release of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
In February 1994, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, starring Jim Carrey, was released and grossed $72 million in the United States and Canada.
July 1994: Release of The Mask
In July 1994, The Mask, starring Jim Carrey, was released and grossed $351 million worldwide.
December 1994: Release of Dumb and Dumber
In December 1994, Dumb and Dumber, starring Jim Carrey, was released and became a commercial success, grossing over $270 million worldwide.
1994: Breakthrough Film Roles
In 1994, Jim Carrey broke out as a film star with starring roles in the box office hits "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective", "The Mask", and "Dumb and Dumber".
1994: Leaves In Living Color
In 1994, Jim Carrey ended his time as a cast member on the ensemble comedy television series In Living Color, after four years on the show.
1995: Continued Film Success
In 1995, Jim Carrey continued his success with starring roles in "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls" and "Batman Forever".
1995: Stars in Batman Forever and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
In 1995, Jim Carrey portrayed The Riddler in Batman Forever, which was a box office success. He also reprised his role in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, which earned $212 million worldwide.
May 1996: Hosting Saturday Night Live
In May 1996, after establishing himself as a Hollywood film star, Jim Carrey hosted Saturday Night Live.
1996: Record Salary for The Cable Guy
In 1996, Jim Carrey became the first comic actor to receive an upfront $20 million salary for a film, starting with "The Cable Guy".
1996: Stars in The Cable Guy
In 1996, Jim Carrey starred in The Cable Guy, directed by Ben Stiller, receiving mixed reviews for his change of tone. He also appeared in Jerry Cantrell's music video, "Leave Me Alone". The film grossed $102 million worldwide.
1997: Leading role in 'Liar Liar'
In 1997, Carrey continued his success as a leading actor in the comedy "Liar Liar".
1998: Starring Role in 'The Truman Show'
In 1998, Jim Carrey starred in "The Truman Show", receiving critical acclaim and winning a Golden Globe Award.
1999: Starring Role in 'Man on the Moon'
In 1999, Jim Carrey starred as Andy Kaufman in "Man on the Moon", winning a Golden Globe Award for his performance.
2000: Leading role in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'
In 2000, Carrey starred in the comedy "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".
2000: Stars in Me, Myself & Irene and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
In 2000, Jim Carrey starred in Me, Myself & Irene, directed by the Farrelly brothers, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, receiving both praise and criticism for the latter. He also earned a Golden Globe nomination for How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
2003: Leading role in 'Bruce Almighty'
In 2003, Carrey starred in the comedy "Bruce Almighty".
2004: Leading role in 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'
In 2004, Carrey starred in the comedy "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events".
2004: Stars in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
In 2004, Jim Carrey starred in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, receiving critical acclaim. He also starred in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. He received another Golden Globe nomination and his first BAFTA Award nomination for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
2004: Starred in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
In 2004, Jim Carrey starred in the romantic drama film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", earning nominations for a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe.
2005: Stars in Fun with Dick and Jane
In 2005, Jim Carrey starred in Fun with Dick and Jane with Téa Leoni, which grossed $200 million.
2007: Stars in The Number 23
In 2007, Jim Carrey starred in The Number 23, a psychological thriller. The film received negative reviews.
2008: Leading role in 'Yes Man'
In 2008, Carrey starred in the comedy "Yes Man".
January 2009: Premiere of I Love You Phillip Morris at Sundance Film Festival
In January 2009, I Love You Phillip Morris, starring Jim Carrey, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
February 2010: Wide release of I Love You Phillip Morris
In February 2010, I Love You Phillip Morris, starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, received a wide release.
2011: Exhibits painting at art show
In 2011, Jim Carrey exhibited the painting Nothing to See Here in an art show in Palm Springs at the Heather James Fine Art Gallery.
2011: Stars in Mr. Popper's Penguins
In 2011, Jim Carrey starred in Mr. Popper's Penguins, playing Tom Popper Jr. The film received a mixed reception.
April 2012: Announcement of Dumb and Dumber sequel
In April 2012, Peter Farrelly announced that Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels would return for a Dumb and Dumber sequel, Dumb and Dumber To.
September 2012: Planned production start for Dumb and Dumber To
September 2012 was the planned production start for the Dumb and Dumber sequel, Dumb and Dumber To, with the Farrelly brothers writing and directing, and Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprising their roles.
October 1, 2012: Script complete and original actors confirmed for Dumb and Dumber To
On October 1, 2012, news broke that the script for Dumb and Dumber To was complete, with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprising their roles.
March 2013: Announces and writes children's book "How Roland Rolls"
In March 2013, Jim Carrey announced that he had written a children's book titled How Roland Rolls.
March 2013: Stars in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and retracts support for Kick-Ass 2
In March 2013, Jim Carrey starred in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. He also retracted support for Kick-Ass 2, stating he could not support the level of violence after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
March 25, 2013: Release of "Cold Dead Hand" parody music video
On March 25, 2013, Jim Carrey released a parody music video with Eels through Funny or Die, titled "Cold Dead Hand," lampooning American gun culture.
September 2013: Release of How Roland Rolls
In September 2013, Jim Carrey self-published and released his children's book, How Roland Rolls.
November 2014: Release of Dumb and Dumber To
In November 2014, Dumb and Dumber To, starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, was released.
2014: Appearance in 'Dumb and Dumber To'
In 2014, Carrey appeared in the film "Dumb and Dumber To".
2015: Producer on Rubble Kings documentary film
In 2015, Jim Carrey was a producer on Rubble Kings, a documentary film depicting events preceding and following the Hoe Avenue peace meeting.
June 2017: Showtime airs "I'm Dying Up Here"
In June 2017, Showtime began airing the dramedy "I'm Dying Up Here," for which Carrey served as the executive producer, chronicling stand-up comics in 1970s Los Angeles, incorporating aspects of Carrey's own experience.
August 2017: Begins sharing political cartoons
Starting in August 2017, Jim Carrey began sharing his own political cartoon drawings, including controversial renderings of then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and then-President Donald Trump.
2017: Reveals painting passion
In 2017, Jim Carrey revealed that he had been painting for the past six years and released a documentary entitled, I Needed Color, which showed him working in his studio.
2017: Two documentaries about Carrey released
In 2017, Jim Carrey was the subject of two documentaries: "I Needed Color", released online in the summer, about his passion for art, and "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond", which premiered at The Venice Film Festival and chronicled the behind-the-scenes drama during the shooting of "Man on the Moon".
June 2018: Cast as Dr. Ivo Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog film adaptation
In June 2018, Jim Carrey was cast as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the main antagonist in the film adaptation of the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series.
October 23, 2018: IndigNation Exhibition Opens
On October 23, 2018, Jim Carrey's exhibition titled "IndigNation" opened at the Maccarone Gallery in Los Angeles, featuring 108 pen-and-ink drawings from his Twitter feed from 2016 to 2018.
2018: Starred in 'Kidding'
In 2018, Jim Carrey starred in the Showtime tragicomedy series "Kidding", receiving his seventh Golden Globe nomination.
February 2020: Sonic the Hedgehog film released
The Sonic the Hedgehog film, in which Jim Carrey played Dr. Ivo Robotnik, was released in February 2020 to positive reviews, with Carrey's portrayal praised.
December 19, 2020: Carrey steps down from playing Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live
On December 19, 2020, Jim Carrey announced that he would step down from playing Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live, stating that he had a six-week deal.
2020: Role as Doctor Eggman in 'Sonic the Hedgehog'
In 2020, Carrey played Doctor Eggman in the "Sonic the Hedgehog" film series.
2020: Final Season of 'Kidding'
In 2020, Jim Carrey appeared in the final season of the Showtime tragicomedy series "Kidding".
January 7, 2022: Carrey appears as narrator of The Weeknd's album Dawn FM
On January 7, 2022, Jim Carrey appeared as the narrator of The Weeknd's album "Dawn FM".
April 2022: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Released
In April 2022, "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" was released, grossing $72 million at the US box office in its opening weekend, giving Carrey the best opening of his career to date.
April 2022: Mints first art NFT
In April 2022, Jim Carrey announced that he had minted his first art NFT via the NFT platform SuperRare, based on a painting entitled Sunshower, accompanied by original voiceover.
April 2022: Carrey Considers Retirement
In April 2022, Jim Carrey announced that he was considering retirement from acting, stating that he has done enough, and is enough.
February 2024: Carrey to Reprise Role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3
In February 2024, it was announced that Jim Carrey would reprise his role as Dr. Ivo Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Carrey also plays Ivo Robotnik’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik.
December 2024: Carrey Clarifies "Power Rest" Plans
In interviews in December 2024, Jim Carrey clarified that he planned to "power rest" rather than retire, while also stating that he was open to continuing his role in the Sonic film series.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Oprah Winfrey an American talk show host television producer actress...
Theodor Seuss Geisel better known as Dr Seuss was a...
Ukraine is a large Eastern European nation second in size...
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye known as The Weeknd is a Canadian...
Linda Ronstadt is a versatile American singer renowned for her...
Trending
6 minutes ago China's Salt Typhoon: Cyberattacks Threaten US and Allies' Critical Infrastructure Security.
6 minutes ago New Stratus COVID-19 Variant Spreads: Symptoms, US Cases, and Vaccine Alerts
2 months ago Jacob Elordi transforms into Frankenstein's Monster in Guillermo del Toro's new movie.
1 hour ago Alcaraz vs. Nakashima: Japan Open 2025 Quarterfinals Preview, Prediction, and How to Watch
1 hour ago Tarantino's ugliest movie, regret, and dark fantasy streaming: A shocking connection revealed.
2 hours ago Alexandra Daddario's 'San Andreas' Thrills Netflix Viewers, Reaching Top Streaming Charts.
Popular
Paracetamol also known as acetaminophen is a commonly used over-the-counter...
Charlie Kirk is an American right-wing political activist entrepreneur and...
Turning Point USA TPUSA is a conservative nonprofit organization founded...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Kash Patel is an American lawyer and former federal prosecutor...
Greg Gutfeld is an American television personality known for his...