Today, there are many successful comedians who make a living by making people laugh. Jim Carrey rose to fame in the 1990s and has stayed in the spotlight ever since. The actor has been in dozens of comedies, but has also shown his more serious side in movies like Dark Crimes and The Number 23, which have proven his range as an actor.
While Carrey has never been nominated for an Academy Award, the actor has won a Golden Globe for his work in The Truman Show and Man On The Moon. Carrey can act in many different types of roles, but comedies are usually where he shines with his madcap antics. Let's take a look at some of his most hilarious performances ever.
The Grinch (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas was remade as an animated feature last year with Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Grinch, but the first remake of How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a live-action film starring Jim Carrey. The costume design made Carrey completely unrecognizable and although the Grinch is usually pretty crouchy, the film was still hilarious.
Many people could utterly relate to the Grinch, with lines like “am I just eating because I’m bored?” and the scene where the Grinch is trying to pick out an outfit before giving up and saying, “that’s it. I’m not going.” In short, Carrey shines as one of Christmas' most well-known characters.
The Riddler (Batman Forever)
Jim Carrey has appeared in comedies, horror movies, and he was even a villain in a superhero movie. Carrey played Edward Nygma, the Riddler, in Joel Schumacher’s 1995 film Batman Forever. While reviews for the film were mainly negative, Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey were the highlights of the film.
Nygma was no doubt a villain, but his antics were always amusing and hilarious to watch since Carrey was playing the character. Seeing Carrey act alongside Jones was also entertaining, but apparently Jones had some harsh words for Jim Carrey behind the scenes.
Carl Allen (Yes Man)
Yes Man was a 2008 comedy from director Peyton Reed. The film stars Jim Carrey as Carl Allen; a bank loan officer who has had a negative outlook on life ever since his divorce. In the movie, Carl goes to a motivational seminar that challenges him to say "Yes" to every request and invitation that someone gives him.
The movie has a talented cast including Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, Danny Masterson, and Terence Stamp. The film was a box office success, but only got mixed reviews with critics. Despite the reception of the film, Yes Man stands out as a memorable entry to Jim Carrey’s filmography.
Fletcher Reede (Liar Liar)
Liar Liar was one of Jim Carrey’s many movies that were released in the 1990s. In this film, Carrey plays a lawyer named Fletcher Reede. Reede has a son named Max (played by Justin Cooper), who makes a wish on his birthday that prevents his dad from telling a lie for a day. This throws Carrey’s character into quite the dilemma, since he is a dishonest lawyer who often lies and cheats to get to the top.
Carrey’s typical energetic acting along with his physical comedy makes Fletcher Reede one of his funniest characters. The film did well with fans and critics and it isn’t hard to see why.
Charlie And Hank (Me, Myself, And Irene)
Jim Carrey plays not one, but two characters in the 2000 film Me, Myself & Irene. After Charlie Baileygates' wife leaves him and abandons her three children, Charlie is left to take care of three kids that aren’t even his, while also juggling his career as a Rhode Island State Police Trooper.
Since the entire town steps all over him, Charlie forms a split personality named Hank who is essentially the complete opposite of Charlie. While Charlie is kind and gentle, Hank is violent, rude and not afraid to stand up to people. The film received average reviews, but seeing Carrey jump back and forth between these two identities was quite amusing.
Colonel Stars And Stripes (Kick-Ass 2)
Jim Carrey has truly had a diverse acting career. The actor has been in everything from comedies, dramas, Christmas movies, and even superhero flicks. In 2013, Jim Carrey played the character Colonel Stars and Stripes in Kick-Ass 2. The character was a villain-turned-hero who founded the superhero team Justice Forever.
Carrey didn’t get as much screen time as some people had hoped for, but his death was graphic and the rest of his scenes were hard to forget. Given Carrey’s comedic background, he was the perfect choice for the role of Colonel Stars and Stripes, which is still one of Carrey’s most humorous roles.
Ace Ventura (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective)
When people think of Jim Carrey they often think of the character Ace Ventura from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The film revolves around an animal detective who is tasked with locating the stolen mascot of the Miami Dolphins. While Carrey’s extravagant acting is hilarious as usual, his costume for the film has also become iconic, including his hairstyle, Hawaiian shirt, and striped pants.
The film got a sequel in 1995 called Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, three seasons of an animated TV series, as well as a straight-to-DVD spinoff called Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective. The original film wasn’t highly regarded, but Carrey is still ed for the role Ace Ventura.
Bruce Nolan (Bruce Almighty)
Bruce Almighty is another one of Jim Carrey’s roles that got mixed reviews with critics, but made a ton of money at the box office. In the film, Carrey is a TV field reporter named Bruce Nolan who wants to be an anchorman.
After asking God for a sign, he actually meets God (played by Morgan Freeman), who allows Bruce to take over as God for a week. The film saw controversy because of Morgan Freeman's role, but the film is funny nonetheless as viewers watch Bruce use the powers of an almighty being.
Lloyd Christmas (Dumb And Dumber)
Lately, movie studios have been making sequels to successful 1990s film to profit off of nostalgia, which was certainly the case with Dumb and Dumber. One of Jim Carrey's most iconic roles came in 1994 when he played the character Lloyd Christmas, alongside Jeff Daniels as Harry Dunne.
The duo starred as two dim-witted friends who travel across the country. Despite certain scenes in the film being absolutely ridiculous, the film has developed a cult following over the years, which led to a sequel (Dumb and Dumber To) in 2014.
Stanley Ipkiss (The Mask)
Out of all of Jim Carrey’s many roles, Stanley Ipkiss from The Mask is by far his funniest and most iconic character. The Mask was loosely based on the comic books from Doug Mahnke and John Arcudi. The film is by far one of Carrey’s most successful movies, with the film even getting nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Effects, Visual Effects in 1995.
In the film, Carrey is a bank-teller who transforms into another entity after putting on a mystical mask he finds in a river. Everybody has a favorite Jim Carrey movie, but The Mask is quite possibly his most well-known role to date.
