Childhood and Education Journey of Jim Carrey in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Jim Carrey. A timeline of key moments.

Jim Carrey is a Canadian and American actor and comedian renowned for his expressive and physical comedic style. He has won two Golden Globe Awards and received nominations for BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Awards, recognizing his contributions to film and television. Carrey is known for his energetic slapstick performances.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

January 17, 1962: Jim Carrey's Birth

On January 17, 1962, James Eugene Carrey, who is a Canadian and American actor and comedian, was born.

March 28, 1987: Carrey marries Melissa Womer

On March 28, 1987, Jim Carrey married former actress and Comedy Store waitress Melissa Womer.

September 6, 1987: Jane Erin Carrey born

On September 6, 1987, Jim Carrey's daughter, Jane Erin Carrey, was born.

1994: Carrey moves to Brentwood

Jim Carrey has lived in Brentwood since 1994.

1995: Carrey and Womer divorce

Jim Carrey and Melissa Womer divorced in 1995.

September 23, 1996: Carrey marries Lauren Holly

On September 23, 1996, Jim Carrey married his "Dumb and Dumber" co-star Lauren Holly.

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February 17, 1997: Carrey discusses law of attraction with Oprah

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey on February 17, 1997, Jim Carrey discussed being an advocate of the "law of attraction." He revealed he would use visualization techniques to get work and visualized a $10 million check for "acting services rendered", later receiving such a check for his role in "Dumb and Dumber".

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October 2004: Carrey becomes a U.S. Citizen

In October 2004, Jim Carrey received U.S. citizenship and remains a dual citizen of the United States and his native Canada.

2004: Carrey describes self as Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian

In a 2004 interview with 60 Minutes, Jim Carrey reportedly said, “I'm a Buddhist, I'm a Muslim, I'm a Christian.”

2007: Hamilton Spectator Interview

In a 2007 interview with the Hamilton Spectator, Jim Carrey reflected on his life, stating that if his show business career hadn't succeeded, he would likely be working at the Dofasco steel mill in Hamilton, Ontario.

2009: Carrey appears with Eckhart Tolle

In 2009, Jim Carrey appeared alongside Eckhart Tolle at an event and shared that through studying Tolle's teachings, he had a spiritual experience.

2011: Carrey exhibits painting at Heather James Fine Art Gallery

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.

2012: Carrey and White start dating

In 2012, Jim Carrey and Cathriona White started dating on and off.

2013: Cathriona White marries Mark Burton

In 2013, Jim Carrey's girlfriend Cathriona White married Mark Burton in Las Vegas.

May 2014: Commencement Address at Maharishi University of Management and Honorary Doctorate

In May 2014, Jim Carrey delivered the commencement address at Maharishi University of Management and received an honorary doctorate for his achievements.

August 29, 2014: Honored by Canada Post with a limited-edition postage stamp

On August 29, 2014, Jim Carrey was honored by Canada Post with a limited-edition postage stamp featuring his portrait.

September 28, 2015: Cathriona White found dead

On September 28, 2015, Jim Carrey's girlfriend, Cathriona White, was found dead from a prescription drug overdose, ruled a suicide.

2015: White dies while still married but dating Carrey

In 2015, Cathriona White died. She was still married to Mark Burton, but dating Jim Carrey at the time.

September 19, 2016: Burton files wrongful death lawsuit against Carrey

On September 19, 2016, Mark Burton, Cathriona White's husband, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jim Carrey.

October 2016: White's mother files wrongful death lawsuit against Carrey

In October 2016, Cathriona White's mother, Brigid Sweetman, also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jim Carrey.

2016: Carrey's drawings from Twitter feed

In 2016 to 2018, Jim Carrey started to create political drawings for his Twitter feed.

June 2017: Carrey delivers speech at Homeboy Industries event

In June 2017, Jim Carrey delivered a speech at a Homeboy Industries event, expressing his belief that the room was filled with God and admiring the attendees as heroes.

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 executive producer. The show chronicles a group of stand-up comics in 1970s Los Angeles and incorporates aspects of Carrey's own experience. The show lasted two seasons.

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August 2017: Carrey starts sharing political cartoons

Since August 2017, Jim Carrey has shared his own political cartoon drawings, including controversial renderings of then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and then-President Donald Trump.

2017: Carrey reveals painting passion and releases documentary

In 2017, Jim Carrey revealed that he had been painting for the past six years and released a six-minute documentary entitled "I Needed Color", which showed him working in his studio.

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2017: Two documentaries about Carrey released

In 2017, two documentaries about Jim Carrey were released. The first, a short subject entitled "I Needed Color" about his lifelong passion for art, was released online in the summer. Later that year another documentary, "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond—Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton", premiered at The Venice Film Festival and was later picked up by Netflix. The film chronicles the behind-the-scenes drama during the shooting of "Man on the Moon", when he never broke character as Andy Kaufman.

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January 25, 2018: Wrongful death lawsuits against Carrey dismissed

On January 25, 2018, both wrongful death lawsuits filed against Jim Carrey by Mark Burton and Brigid Sweetman were dismissed, and attorneys confirmed there would be no further legal proceedings.

June 2018: Carrey cast as Dr. Ivo Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog film

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 Carrey's Twitter feed from 2016 to 2018.

March 31, 2019: Carrey's drawing criticizing fascism sparks international event

On March 31, 2019, Jim Carrey posted a drawing criticizing fascism by depicting Benito Mussolini's infamous death with Clara Petacci, sparking controversy with Mussolini's granddaughter Alessandra.

February 2021: Carrey discontinues political cartoons

In February 2021, Jim Carrey announced he would discontinue political cartoons.

April 2022: Carrey mints first art NFT

In April 2022, Jim Carrey announced that he had minted his first art NFT via the NFT platform SuperRare. The NFT is based on a painting entitled "Sunshower", and is accompanied by original voiceover.

April 2022: Carrey considers retirement

In April 2022, Jim Carrey announced that he was considering retirement, stating he has "done enough" and is "enough."

November 2022: Carrey banned from entering Russia

In November 2022, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs banned 100 Canadians, including Jim Carrey, from entering Russia as a reciprocity for the international sanctions which had been introduced due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

February 2024: Carrey to reprise Dr. Ivo Robotnik 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.

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December 2024: Carrey plans to "power rest" rather than retire

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.

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