History of Jim Carrey in Timeline
Jim Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian renowned for his energetic and slapstick performances. He began his career in the 1980s, gaining recognition on the sketch comedy show *In Living Color* (1990-1994). Carrey achieved film stardom through a series of successful comedies, including *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective*, *The Mask*, and *Dumb and Dumber*. His box office success led him to become the first comic actor to command a $20 million salary for film roles, starting with *The Cable Guy* (1996).
January 17, 1962: Jim Carrey's Birth
On January 17, 1962, James Eugene Carrey was born. He is a Canadian-American actor and comedian known for his energetic slapstick performances.
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.
1979: Return to the Stage
In 1979, with more domestic stability, Jim Carrey returned to the stage with a more polished act, leading to his first paid gig.
1980: Saturday Night Live Audition
In 1980, Jim Carrey auditioned to be a cast member 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, but he was booed offstage.
April 1981: An Evening at the Improv Appearance
In April 1981, Jim Carrey appeared in an episode of the televised stand-up show An Evening at the Improv.
September 1981: Introducing... Janet Premiere
In September 1981, Jim Carrey played a struggling impressionist comic Tony Maroni in the made-for-TV movie Introducing... Janet.
June 19, 1982: Toronto Performances
On June 19, 1982, Jim Carrey performed two sold-out shows at Massey Hall in Toronto.
April 1983: Performance at B.B. Magoon's
During late April 1983, Jim Carrey returned to perform at B.B. Magoon's theatrical venue in Toronto on three consecutive nights.
November 1983: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Debut
In late November 1983, Jim Carrey debuted his impressionist act on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
1983: Dating Linda Ronstadt
In 1983, Jim Carrey dated singer Linda Ronstadt for eight months.
January 1984: The Duck Factory Debut
In January 1984, The Duck Factory sitcom was originally scheduled to start airing.
July 1984: Late Night with David Letterman Debut
In late July 1984, Jim Carrey made his debut appearance on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman after the cancellation of The Duck Factory.
November 1985: Once Bitten Release
In mid November 1985, Once Bitten, starring Jim Carrey, was released and became a modest box-office hit.
1986: SNL Audition Rejection
In 1986, Jim Carrey auditioned for Saturday Night Live for the third time but was rejected again, despite performing for Lorne Michaels and other cast members. He realized impressions alone weren't enough for a career and began to develop a new live comedy act.
September 6, 1987: Birth of Daughter Jane Erin Carrey
On September 6, 1987, Jim Carrey's daughter, Jane Erin Carrey, was born.
1990: In Living Color Cast Member
In 1990, Jim Carrey became a regular cast member of the ensemble comedy television series In Living Color. The popularity of the series helped him land his first few major film roles.
1990: Cast in In Living Color
In 1990, Jim Carrey gained recognition after being cast in the American sketch comedy television series In Living Color (1990–1994).
February 1994: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Release
In February 1994, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, starring Jim Carrey, was released and grossed $72 million in the United States and Canada.
July 1994: The Mask Release
In July 1994, The Mask, starring Jim Carrey, was released and grossed $351 million worldwide.
December 1994: Dumb and Dumber Release
In December 1994, Dumb and Dumber, starring Jim Carrey, was released and grossed over $270 million worldwide, becoming a commercial success.
1994: Film Star Breakthrough
In 1994, Jim Carrey broke out as a film star after starring in box office hits such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber.
1994: Move to Brentwood
In 1994, Jim Carrey moved to Brentwood, where he has resided since.
1994: Continued role in In Living Color
In 1994, Jim Carrey was a regular cast member of the ensemble comedy television series In Living Color.
1995: Divorce from Melissa Womer
In 1995, Jim Carrey and Melissa Womer divorced.
1995: Continued Film Success
In 1995, Jim Carrey continued his film success with Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Batman Forever.
1995: Batman Forever and Ace Ventura Sequel
In 1995, Jim Carrey portrayed the Riddler in Batman Forever, a box office success despite mixed reviews. He also reprised his role as Ace Ventura in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, which was a box-office success earning $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.
September 23, 1996: Marriage to Lauren Holly
On September 23, 1996, Jim Carrey married his Dumb and Dumber co-star Lauren Holly.
1996: The Cable Guy Release and Reception
In 1996, Jim Carrey starred in The Cable Guy, receiving $20 million upfront, a departure from his previous roles. The film received mixed reviews despite grossing $102 million worldwide.
1996: The Cable Guy and $20 Million Salary
In 1996, the success of his films led to Carrey becoming the first comic actor to receive an upfront $20 million salary for performing in films, starting with The Cable Guy.
February 17, 1997: Advocacy of the "law of attraction"
On February 17, 1997, Jim Carrey revealed in an interview that as a struggling actor he would use visualization techniques to get work, and manifested a $10 million check.
1997: Leading Role in Liar Liar
In 1997, Jim Carrey continued to have success as a leading actor in comedies such as Liar Liar.
1997: Liar Liar Release and Acclaim
In 1997, Jim Carrey starred in Liar Liar, receiving praise for his performance as Fletcher Reede. He also earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor.
1998: Starring in The Truman Show
In 1998, Jim Carrey starred in The Truman Show, receiving critical acclaim for his dramatic role.
1998: The Truman Show Release and Success
In 1998, Jim Carrey starred in The Truman Show, receiving international acclaim and winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. The film grossed $264 million worldwide.
1999: Engagement to Renée Zellweger
From 1999 to 2000, Jim Carrey was engaged to his Me, Myself and Irene co-star Renée Zellweger.
1999: Man on the Moon Release
In 1999, Jim Carrey starred as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon, receiving critical acclaim and his second Golden Globe in a row.
1999: Starring as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon
In 1999, Jim Carrey starred as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon, receiving critical acclaim for his dramatic role.
2000: Engagement to Renée Zellweger
From 1999 to 2000, Jim Carrey was engaged to his Me, Myself and Irene co-star Renée Zellweger.
2000: Me, Myself & Irene and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
In 2000, Jim Carrey starred in Me, Myself & Irene and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for the latter.
2000: Starring in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
In 2000, Jim Carrey starred in the comedy How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
2002: Relationship with January Jones
In 2002, Jim Carrey was in a relationship with January Jones.
2003: Bruce Almighty Release
In 2003, Jim Carrey starred in Bruce Almighty, which became a financial success grossing over $484 million worldwide.
2003: Starring in Bruce Almighty
In 2003, Jim Carrey starred in the comedy Bruce Almighty.
October 2004: Receives U.S. Citizenship
In October 2004, Jim Carrey became a U.S. citizen, maintaining dual citizenship with Canada.
2004: Eternal Sunshine and Lemony Snicket
In 2004, Jim Carrey starred in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, receiving critical acclaim and a BAFTA nomination. He also appeared in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which was positively received.
2004: Starring in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
In 2004, Jim Carrey starred in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
2004: Starring in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
In 2004, Jim Carrey starred in the romantic drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, receiving award nominations for his performance.
2004: Identifies as Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian
In a 2004 interview, Jim Carrey reportedly said, “I'm a Buddhist, I'm a Muslim, I'm a Christian.”
2005: Meets Jenny McCarthy
In 2005, Jim Carrey met model and actress Jenny McCarthy.
2005: Fun with Dick and Jane Release
In 2005, Jim Carrey starred in Fun with Dick and Jane, which grossed $200 million.
June 2006: Public Relationship with Jenny McCarthy
In June 2006, Jim Carrey made public that he was in a romantic relationship with Jenny McCarthy.
2007: The Number 23 Release
In 2007, Jim Carrey starred in The Number 23, which was panned by critics.
2007: Hamilton Spectator Interview
In a 2007 Hamilton Spectator interview, Jim Carrey reflected on his potential career path if show business hadn't worked out.
2008: Starring in Yes Man
In 2008, Jim Carrey starred in the comedy Yes Man.
2008: Horton Hears a Who! and Yes Man
In 2008, Jim Carrey voiced Horton in Horton Hears a Who!, a box office success. He also starred in Yes Man, which earned $225 million worldwide.
January 2009: I Love You Phillip Morris Premiere
In January 2009, I Love You Phillip Morris, starring Jim Carrey, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
2009: Article Questioning Vaccination Merits and "Green Our Vaccines" March
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. with Jenny McCarthy, advocating for the removal of "toxic substances" from children's vaccines.
February 2010: I Love You Phillip Morris Wide Release
In February 2010, I Love You Phillip Morris, starring Jim Carrey, received a wide release, receiving largely positive reviews.
April 2010: End of Relationship with Jenny McCarthy
In April 2010, Jim Carrey ended his relationship with Jenny McCarthy.
October 2010: McCarthy Comments on Friendship with Carrey
In October 2010, Jenny McCarthy noted that she and Jim Carrey remained good friends after their breakup.
January 2011: Hosting Saturday Night Live
In January 2011, Jim Carrey hosted Saturday Night Live again.
2011: 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.
2011: Mr. Popper's Penguins Release
In 2011, Jim Carrey starred in Mr. Popper's Penguins, which received a mixed reception.
April 2012: Dumb and Dumber To Announcement
In April 2012, Peter Farrelly announced that Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels would return for a Dumb and Dumber sequel.
September 2012: Planned Production Start for Dumb and Dumber To
In September 2012, production for Dumb and Dumber To was planned to start.
October 1, 2012: Carrey to Reprise Role in Dumb and Dumber To
On October 1, 2012, it was announced that Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels would be reprising their roles in Dumb and Dumber To.
2012: Meets Cathriona White
In 2012, Jim Carrey met Cathriona White, a makeup artist from County Tipperary, Ireland.
2012: Relationship with Cathriona White
In 2012, Jim Carrey was dating Cathriona White on and off.
March 2013: Announcement of Children's Book
In March 2013, Jim Carrey announced his children's book titled How Roland Rolls.
March 2013: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Kick-Ass 2
In March 2013, Jim Carrey starred in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, which underperformed at the box office. Around the same time, he appeared in Kick-Ass 2 but retracted support for the film prior to its release due to its violence.
March 25, 2013: "Cold Dead Hand" Music Video Release
On March 25, 2013, Jim Carrey released a parody music video with Eels titled "Cold Dead Hand", lampooning American gun culture.
September 2013: How Roland Rolls Release
In September 2013, Jim Carrey's self-published children's book, How Roland Rolls, was released.
2013: Cathriona White's Marriage to Mark Burton
In 2013, Jim Carrey's girlfriend Cathriona White married Mark Burton in Las Vegas.
May 2014: Honorary Doctorate
In May 2014, Jim Carrey delivered the commencement address at Maharishi University of Management and received an honorary doctorate.
August 29, 2014: Canada Post Stamp
On August 29, 2014, Jim Carrey was honored by Canada Post with a limited-edition postage stamp featuring his portrait.
October 2014: Hosting Saturday Night Live
In October 2014, Jim Carrey hosted Saturday Night Live for the third time.
November 2014: Dumb and Dumber To Release
In November 2014, Dumb and Dumber To was released.
2014: Appearance in Dumb and Dumber To
In 2014, Jim Carrey appeared in Dumb and Dumber To.
2014: Appeared on Monty Python's Best Bits
In 2014, Jim Carrey, a fan of Monty Python, appeared on Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly).
July 1, 2015: Criticism of California's Vaccination Law
On July 1, 2015, Jim Carrey criticized California Governor Jerry Brown and the new vaccination law, which disallowed religious and philosophical exemptions, leading to backlash for his stance.
September 28, 2015: Death of Cathriona White
On September 28, 2015, Cathriona White, Jim Carrey's girlfriend, was found dead from a prescription drug overdose, ruled as suicide.
2015: Ongoing relationship with Cathriona White at the time of her death
In 2015, Cathriona White was still married to Mark Burton but dating Jim Carrey at the time of her death.
2015: Producer on Rubble Kings
In 2015, Jim Carrey was a producer on Rubble Kings, a documentary film.
September 19, 2016: Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Carrey
On September 19, 2016, Mark Burton filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jim Carrey, alleging he contributed to Cathriona White's death.
October 2016: Brigid Sweetman Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
In October 2016, Cathriona White's mother, Brigid Sweetman, also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jim Carrey.
2016: Political Drawings Featured on Twitter
From 2016 to 2018, Jim Carrey's political drawings were featured on his Twitter feed.
June 2017: Speech at Homeboy Industries Event
In June 2017, Jim Carrey delivered a speech at a Homeboy Industries event, expressing his belief in the presence of God and admiration for the attendees.
June 2017: I'm Dying Up Here Airing
In June 2017, Showtime began airing the dramedy I'm Dying Up Here, for which Jim Carrey served as the executive producer.
August 2017: Sharing Political Cartoons
Since August 2017, Jim Carrey has shared his own political cartoon drawings.
2017: 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 titled, I Needed Color, which showed him working in his studio.
2017: Release of "I Needed Color" and premiere of "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond"
In 2017, Jim Carrey was the subject of two documentaries. "I Needed Color," a short film about his passion for art, was released online in the summer of 2017. Later in 2017, "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond" premiered at The Venice Film Festival, chronicling his method acting as Andy Kaufman during the filming of "Man on the Moon."
January 25, 2018: Dismissal of Wrongful Death Lawsuits
On January 25, 2018, both wrongful death lawsuits against Jim Carrey filed by Mark Burton and Brigid Sweetman were dismissed, with no further legal proceedings planned.
June 2018: Casting 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 Art Exhibition
On October 23, 2018, Jim Carrey's drawing repertoire culminated in an exhibition titled IndigNation, which opened at the Maccarone Gallery in Los Angeles and featured 108 pen-and-ink drawings from Carrey's Twitter feed from 2016 to 2018.
2018: Starring in Kidding
In 2018, Jim Carrey starred in the Showtime tragicomedy series Kidding, receiving Golden Globe nominations for his performance.
January 2019: Attends Golden Globes with Ginger Gonzaga
In January 2019, Jim Carrey attended the Golden Globes party with his then-girlfriend, Ginger Gonzaga.
March 31, 2019: Controversial Political Cartoon
On March 31, 2019, Jim Carrey posted a drawing criticizing fascism by depicting Benito Mussolini's death, sparking controversy.
February 2020: Release of Sonic the Hedgehog film
In February 2020, the Sonic the Hedgehog film was released to positive reviews, with Jim Carrey's portrayal of Dr. Ivo Robotnik being highly praised.
December 19, 2020: Carrey Steps Down from SNL's Joe Biden Impersonation
On December 19, 2020, Jim Carrey announced that he would step down from playing Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live after a six-week stint, due to his comedy style clashing with Biden's persona.
2020: Starring in Kidding
In 2020, Jim Carrey starred in the Showtime tragicomedy series Kidding, receiving Golden Globe nominations for his performance.
2020: Role as Doctor Eggman in Sonic the Hedgehog
In 2020, Jim Carrey took on the role of Doctor Eggman in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series.
February 2021: Discontinuing Political Cartoons
In February 2021, Jim Carrey announced he would discontinue political cartoons.
January 7, 2022: Carrey Narrates 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: 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.
April 2022: Carrey Considers Retirement
In April 2022, Jim Carrey announced that he was considering retirement from acting, stating he had "done enough" but would return for a project of significant importance.
April 2022: Release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Career-best opening weekend
In April 2022, Jim Carrey returned for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which grossed $72 million at the US box office in its opening weekend, marking the best opening of his career to date.
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, also playing Ivo Robotnik’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik.
December 2024: Carrey clarifies 'power rest' instead of retirement
In December 2024, Jim Carrey clarified in interviews 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.
