- [Narrator] As a comedian,
he can quite literally stretch like no other.
But behind the many fearless faces of Jim Carrey
is a journey which has transcended laughter.
- I like it a lot.
(dramatic music)
- [Narrator] Born in Newmarket, Ontario in 1962,
James Eugene Carrey's comedy dreams started young.
By age 10, Carrey was so confident,
in his impersonation skills he wrote a letter
to Carol Burnett, asking for a role on her show.
The show didn't cast him, but Carrey didn't give up.
Even when his mother fell ill, his dad lost his job
and the family found themselves homeless,
the Carrey's always made time for comedy.
During the performance at Yuk Yuks,
Carrey caught the eye of Rodney Dangerfield,
who hired the young Canadian to open for him in Los Vegas.
After touring with Dangerfield,
Carrey set his sights on film and TV.
He auditioned for Saturday Night Live in 1980,
but wasn't offered a job on the NBC show,
he's now hosted three times, mind you.
- You are too far, return immediately.
(audience laughing)
- [Narrator] But a role on In Living Color,
changed everything.
- I wrote myself a check for $10 million
for acting services rendered and I gave myself five years.
(dramatic music)
- [Narrator] Most comedians work their whole lives
for the number of hits Jim Carrey enjoyed in 1994 alone.
- Alrighty then.
- [Narrator] After Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,
became a cult hero in February,
The Mask debuted in theaters in July
and December Lloyd Christmas
was in a little town called Aspen.
- We're there.
- [Narrator] Carrey reportedly made $7 million
for Dumb and Dumber, nearly 20 times his Ace Ventura payday,
earlier that same year.
- There you go. - Thank you.
- There you go.
- [Narrator] In 1995, Carrey double-downed
with an Ace Ventura sequel, making more than enough
to cash that famous check.
In 1996, Carrey became the first actor
to command 20 million for a single picture,
when he starred in The Cable Guy.
- Well, let's take a look at what we're dealing with here.
- [Narrator] Though he continued to prove,
he could dazzle audiences with crowd pleasing hits,
like Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty,
a different side of Jim Carrey
was clearly coming into focus.
(dramatic music)
Fully committed to picking parts
that would stretch him somehow, the fourth wall breaking
The Truman Show managed to prove the rubbery,
chaotic comedian we know and love,
is just as good when he is contained.
(crashing)
Literally.
In 1999, Carrey's portrayal of comedian Andy Kaufman,
in Man on The Moon, found him so utterly devoted
to his craft that his method acting,
later became the subject of it's own documentary.
- I was thinking, how far should I take this.
How far would Andy take it?
- [Narrator] If his pension for darker characters,
wasn't obvious in 2000, when he portrayed The Grinch,
Carrey's performance opposite Kate Winslow in 2004s
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind made it clear
that the fearless funnyman craved tragedy as much as comedy.
- You said, "So, go."
With such disdain, you know.
(dramatic music)
- [Narrator] Following his Golden Globe Nomination
for Eternal Sunshine, Carrey worked steadily,
over the next decade.
Alternating between big budget family friendly films,
like Yes Man and Mr. Popper's Penguins
and darker material after uniting
with the Farrelly Brothers, in 2016
to revisit his iconic role of Lloyd Christmas in
Dumb and Dumber To, Carrey returned
to place he hadn't called home in nearly 25 years,
television.
- What I like about you, is the other stuff.
The inside stuff.
- [Narrator] After a four year hiatus from film,
Carrey is back in theaters, playing the arch nemesis
to another 90s icon, Sonic the Hedgehog.
- I just thought you might like a latte
with steamed Austrian goat milk?
- Of course I want an latte.
I love the way you make them!
- [Narrator] Whether his future holds more movies,
more TV, more light or more dark,
you can bet Jim Carrey will approach it with all his got.
(upbeat music)