50 Plus Hub
Engraved portrait of Jim Carrey
Comedy · 1990s

Jim Carrey

Still with us 1962–present
Newmarket, Ontario, Canadaborn
1994, with three back-to-back hitsbreakout_year
First comic actor paid $20 million (The Cable Guy)salary_milestone
Two wins, 1998 and 1999golden_globes
Ace Ventura, pet detectivesignature_role
The Turning Point

In 1994, Carrey exploded as a movie star with three back-to-back hits: Ace Ventura, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber. The rubber-faced physical comedy made him one of the decade's biggest box-office draws. Within two years he became the first comic actor paid $20 million for a film.

Canadian Comedy Kid

Born near Toronto in 1962, Carrey endured a tough youth before finding stand-up comedy. American audiences first noticed his elastic faces on the sketch show In Living Color.

1994 Explosion

Three blockbuster comedies in a single year made him a global star. By 1996 he commanded a record $20 million salary for a single film role.

Dramatic Range

Carrey surprised critics with serious roles, winning Golden Globes for The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. Eternal Sunshine later showcased his depth as a dramatic actor.

Career Timeline

  1. 1990Joins the sketch series In Living Color
  2. 1994Breaks out in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
  3. 1994Stars in hits The Mask and Dumb and Dumber
  4. 1995Plays the Riddler in Batman Forever
  5. 1996Earns landmark $20 million for The Cable Guy
  6. 1997Stars in box-office smash Liar Liar
  7. 1998Wins Golden Globe for The Truman Show
  8. 1999Wins Golden Globe playing Andy Kaufman
  9. 2000Stars in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  10. 2004Leads acclaimed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Biggest Hits

1994
Ace Ventura: Pet DetectiveBreakout role as a goofy pet investigator
1994
The MaskCartoonish special-effects comedy and box-office smash
1994
Dumb and DumberRoad-trip comedy with Jeff Daniels
1998
The Truman ShowWon a Golden Globe for dramatic lead
1999
Man on the MoonGolden Globe-winning turn as Andy Kaufman
Did You Know
  • As a struggling comic he wrote himself a $10 million check 'for acting services rendered,' dated for the future.
  • Despite Golden Globe wins for The Truman Show and Man on the Moon, he was never Oscar-nominated for either.

Portrait: Georges Biard · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

← All star bios