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 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.

Sections (5)

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

January 17, 1962: Jim Carrey Born

On January 17, 1962, James Eugene Carrey was born. He is a Canadian and American actor and comedian, known for his energetic slapstick performances.

September 6, 1987: Daughter Jane Erin Carrey is born

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

1994: Moves to Brentwood

Jim Carrey has lived in Brentwood since 1994.

1995: Divorces Melissa Womer

Jim Carrey and Melissa Womer divorced in 1995.

September 23, 1996: 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: Discusses Law of Attraction with Oprah Winfrey

On February 17, 1997, Jim Carrey shared his belief in the "law of attraction" in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, detailing how he visualized a $10 million check and later received one for his role in Dumb and Dumber.

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October 2004: Receives U.S. Citizenship

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

2004: Describes religious identity

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

2009: Appears with Eckhart Tolle at event

In 2009, Jim Carrey appeared alongside Eckhart Tolle at an event, sharing that he had a spiritual experience through studying Tolle's teachings and stating, "I was no longer a fragment of the universe. I was the universe."

2009: Questions Vaccination Merits

In 2009, Jim Carrey wrote an article questioning the merits of vaccination for The Huffington Post and led a "Green Our Vaccines" march in Washington, D.C., advocating for the removal of "toxic substances" from children's vaccines.

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.

May 2014: Delivers commencement address and receives honorary doctorate

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

July 1, 2015: Criticizes California's Vaccination Law

On July 1, 2015, Jim Carrey criticized California Governor Jerry Brown as a "corporate fascist" for enacting the new vaccination law, which disallowed religious and philosophical reasons for exemption.

September 28, 2015: Cathriona White found dead

On September 28, 2015, Cathriona White, who dated Jim Carrey between 2012 and 2015, was found dead from a prescription drug overdose; the death was ruled a suicide.

2015: Cathriona White dies

Cathriona White, who was dating Jim Carrey while still married, died in 2015.

2016: Begins drawing repertoire

Jim Carrey's drawing repertoire culminated in an exhibition titled IndigNation, which opened on October 23, 2018, at the Maccarone Gallery in Los Angeles and featured 108 pen-and-ink drawings from Carrey's Twitter feed from 2016 to 2018.

June 2017: Delivers speech at Homeboy Industries event

In June 2017, Jim Carrey delivered a speech at a Homeboy Industries event, where he said, “I want to speak to the fact that I believe that this room is filled with God, and that you are heroes to me and I admire you.”

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.

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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.

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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".

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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.

March 31, 2019: Cartoon Sparks International Incident

On March 31, 2019, Jim Carrey posted a drawing criticizing fascism by depicting Benito Mussolini's death, which sparked an international incident when Mussolini's granddaughter Alessandra chided him on Twitter.

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.

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February 2021: Discontinues Political Cartoons

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

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.

November 2022: Banned from entering Russia

In November 2022, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs banned 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 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 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.