Jim Carrey

Some people are born to be clowns and funny men. This might be true of Jim Carrey. He was the fourth child born to Kathleen (Oram) Carrey and Percy Carrey, January 17, 1962. He can boast of being of French Canadian descent and spent most of his earliest years growing up in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.

Through his school career and his early life James Eugene Carrey (Jim) did his best to keep people laughing. Perhaps he knew all along that he was destined to be onstage and in films, because even as a pre teen he sent his resume to Carol Burnette. However he recalls that he often looked away from his home at the Dofasco factories in Hamilton, and thinking, “That is where the good jobs are.” Jim Carrey was no stranger to hard work, and even as a teen had worked in a science testing facility in Richmond Hill. Later on, when his family was homeless and living in a Volkswagen van, he worked as a janitorial and security person.

How does a school or a teacher handle a persistent class clown? At one point as a junior high student, Jim Carrey was given a rare privilege. At the end of the day he could do stand up bits for his school mates, but only if he kept the antics down through out the day.
Jim probably did not always keep his humor under control, because school records show that with various relocations he spent three years in the tenth grade. Working eight hour shifts after school every day did not do much to raise his academic standing either, I am sure. He dropped out of high school at 16.

Jim Carrey started performing in stand-up comedy at Yuk Yuk’s in Toronto, in 1979. By 1981 he was a headliner, and only nineteen years old. During the 1980’s he moved to Los Angeles to work at The Comedy Store. Rodney Dangerfield became aware of Carrey and signed him to open his tour performances. During that same time frame, Carrey auditioned for Saturday Night Live, but did not win the audition. He got his first break as a lead as Skip Tarkenton, on NBC’s The Duck Factory. Unfortunately the show had only a four month run. Fox provided another comedy sketch venue In Living Color the brainchild of Keenan Wayans. Some found his role as a Fire Marshall controversial, as the advice Jim Carrey gave during the show was unsafe.

A roll call of Jim Carrey shows would have to include the Ace Ventura movies, with his trademark physical humor, and The Mask, which showed his pliable facial features. The Cable Guy, and Dumb and Dumber also come to mind. The Truman Show and Man on the Moon drew Golden Globes for Carrey, but not the Oscars he coveted.

Jim Carrey became an American citizen in the early 2000’s but also still holds his Canadian citizenship. He says he has no intention of abandoning the heritage that supported him while he rose to fame. We have not seen all this star has to offer, but can hope to see many new and original Jim Carrey roles in the future.