This is a following list of the MTV Movie Award winners and nominees for Best Performance from 1992 onward. In all but two years, the awards are separated into Male and Female categories.

Winners[link]

[edit] 1992

• Male Performance: Arnold Schwarzenegger (as The Terminator) - Terminator 2: Judgment Day
  • Kevin Costner (as Robin Hood) - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
  • Robert De Niro (as Max Cady) - Cape Fear
  • Val Kilmer (as Jim Morrison) - The Doors

• Female Performance: Linda Hamilton (as Sarah Connor) - Terminator 2: Judgment Day
  • Geena Davis (as Thelma Dickinson) - Thelma and Louise
  • Rebecca De Mornay (as Peyton Flanders) - The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
  • Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (as Maid Marian) - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
  • Julia Roberts - Dying Young

[edit] 1993

• Male Performance: Denzel Washington (as Malcolm X) - Malcolm X
  • Kevin Costner (as Frank Farmer) - The Bodyguard
  • Tom Cruise (Lt. Daniel Kaffee) - A Few Good Men
  • Michael Douglas (as Nick Curran) - Basic Instinct
  • Jack Nicholson (Col. Nathan Jessep) - A Few Good Men

• Female Performance: Sharon Stone (as Catherine Tramell) - Basic Instinct
  • Geena Davis (as Dottie Hinson) - A League of Their Own
  • Whoopi Goldberg - Sister Act
  • Whitney Houston (as Rachel Marron) - The Bodyguard
  • Demi Moore (as Lt. Commander Joanne Galloway) - A Few Good Men

[edit] 1994

• Male Performance: Tom Hanks (as Andrew Beckett) - Philadelphia
  • Tom Cruise (as Mitch McDeere) - The Firm
  • Harrison Ford (as John Kimble) - The Fugitive
  • Val Kilmer (as Doc Holliday) - Tombstone
  • Robin Williams (as Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire) - Mrs. Doubtfire

• Female Performance: Janet Jackson - Poetic Justice
  • Angela Bassett (as Tina Turner) - What's Love Got to Do with It
  • Demi Moore (as Diana Murphy) - Indecent Proposal
  • Julia Roberts (as Darby Shaw) - The Pelican Brief
  • Meg Ryan (as Annie Reed) - Sleepless in Seattle

[edit] 1995

• Male Performance: Brad Pitt (as Louis) - Interview with the Vampire
  • Tom Hanks (as Forrest Gump) - Forrest Gump
  • Brandon Lee - The Crow
  • Keanu Reeves (as Jack Traven) - Speed
  • John Travolta (as Vincent Vega) - Pulp Fiction

• Female Performance: Sandra Bullock (as Annie Porter) - Speed
  • Jamie Lee Curtis (as Helen Tasker) - True Lies
  • Jodie Foster (as Nell Kellty) - Nell
  • Meg Ryan - When a Man Loves a Woman
  • Uma Thurman (as Mia Wallace) - Pulp Fiction

[edit] 1996

• Male Performance: Jim Carrey (as Ace Ventura) - Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
  • Mel Gibson (as William Wallace) - Braveheart
  • Tom Hanks (as Jim Lovell) - Apollo 13
  • Brad Pitt (as Jeffrey Goines) - 12 Monkeys
  • Denzel Washington - Crimson Tide

• Female Performance: Alicia Silverstone (as Cher Horowitz) - Clueless
  • Sandra Bullock - While You Were Sleeping
  • Michelle Pfeiffer (as Louanne Johnson) - Dangerous Minds
  • Susan Sarandon (as Sister Helen Prejean) - Dead Man Walking
  • Sharon Stone (as Ginger McKenna) - Casino

[edit] 1997

• Male Performance: Tom Cruise (as Jerry Maguire) - Jerry Maguire
  • Leonardo DiCaprio (as Romeo) - William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
  • Eddie Murphy (as Sherman Klump) - The Nutty Professor
  • Will Smith - Independence Day
  • John Travolta - Phenomenon

• Female Performance: Claire Danes (as Juliet) - William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
  • Sandra Bullock - A Time to Kill
  • Neve Campbell (as Sidney Prescott) - Scream
  • Helen Hunt (as Jo Harding) - Twister
  • Madonna (as Eva Peron) - Evita

[edit] 1998

• Male Performance: Leonardo DiCaprio (as Jack Dawson) - Titanic
  • Nicolas Cage (as Casear Troy) - Face/Off
  • Matt Damon (as Will Hunting) - Good Will Hunting
  • Samuel L. Jackson - Jackie Brown
  • John Travolta (as Sean Archer) - Face/Off

• Female Performance: Neve Campbell (as Sidney Prescott) - Scream 2
  • Vivica A. Fox - Soul Food
  • Helen Hunt (as Carol Connelly) - As Good as It Gets
  • Julia Roberts - My Best Friend's Wedding
  • Kate Winslet (as Rose DeWitt Bukater) - Titanic

[edit] 1999

• Male Performance: Jim Carrey (as Truman Burbank) - The Truman Show
  • Ben Affleck (as A.J. Frost) - Armageddon
  • Tom Hanks - Saving Private Ryan
  • Adam Sandler (as Bobby Boucher) - The Waterboy
  • Will Smith (as Robert Dean) - Enemy of the State

• Female Performance: Cameron Diaz (as Mary) - There's Something About Mary
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt (as Amanda Beckett) - Can't Hardly Wait
  • Jennifer Lopez (as Karen Sisco) - Out of Sight
  • Gwyneth Paltrow (as Viola de Lesseps) - Shakespeare in Love
  • Liv Tyler - Armageddon

[edit] 2000

• Male Performance: Keanu Reeves (as Neo) - The Matrix
  • Jim Carrey (as Andy Kaufman) - Man on the Moon
  • Ryan Phillippe - Cruel Intentions
  • Adam Sandler (as Sonny Koufax) - Big Daddy
  • Bruce Willis (as Dr. Malcolm Crowe) - The Sixth Sense

• Female Performance: Sarah Michelle Gellar (as Kathryn) - Cruel Intentions
  • Drew Barrymore (as Josie Geller) - Never Been Kissed
  • Neve Campbell (as Sidney Prescott) - Scream 3
  • Ashley Judd - Double Jeopardy
  • Julia Roberts - Runaway Bride

[edit] 2001

• Male Performance: Tom Cruise (as Ethan Hunt) - Mission: Impossible II
  • Russell Crowe (as Maximus) - Gladiator
  • Omar Epps - Love & Basketball
  • Mel Gibson (as Colonel Martin) - The Patriot
  • Tom Hanks (as Chuck Noland) - Cast Away

• Female Performance: Julia Roberts (as Erin Brockovich) - Erin Brockovich
  • Aaliyah - Romeo Must Die
  • Kate Hudson (as Penny Lane) - Almost Famous
  • Jennifer Lopez - The Cell
  • Julia Stiles - Save the Last Dance

[edit] 2002

• Male Performance: Vin Diesel (as Dominic Toretto) - The Fast and the Furious
  • Russell Crowe (as John Nash) - A Beautiful Mind
  • Josh Hartnett (as First Lieutenant Danny Walker) - Pearl Harbor
  • Will Smith (as Muhammad Ali) - Ali
  • Elijah Wood (as Frodo Baggins) - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

• Female Performance: Nicole Kidman (as Satine) - Moulin Rouge!
  • Kate Beckinsale (as Nurse Evelyn Johnson) - Pearl Harbor
  • Halle Berry (as Leticia Musgrove) - Monster's Ball
  • Angelina Jolie (as Lara Croft) - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
  • Reese Witherspoon (as Elle Woods) - Legally Blonde

[edit] 2003

• Male Performance: Eminem (as Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith)- 8 Mile
  • Vin Diesel (as Xander Cage) - xXx
  • Leonardo DiCaprio (as Frank Abagnale) - Catch Me If You Can
  • Tobey Maguire (as Peter Parker / Spider-Man) - Spider-Man
  • Viggo Mortensen (as Aragorn) - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

• Female Performance: Kirsten Dunst (as Mary Jane Watson) - Spider-Man
  • Halle Berry (as Jinx) - Die Another Day
  • Kate Hudson - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
  • Queen Latifah (as Matron Morton) - Chicago
  • Reese Witherspoon (as Melanie Carmichael) - Sweet Home Alabama

[edit] 2004

• Male Performance: Johnny Depp (as Jack Sparrow) - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Jim Caviezel (as Jesus Christ) - The Passion of the Christ
  • Tom Cruise - The Last Samurai
  • Bill Murray - Lost in Translation
  • Adam Sandler - 50 First Dates

• Female Performance: Uma Thurman (as The Bride) - Kill Bill Vol. 1
  • Drew Barrymore - 50 First Dates
  • Halle Berry (as Miranda Grey) - Gothika
  • Queen Latifah - Bringing Down the House
  • Charlize Theron (as Aileen Wuornos) - Monster

[edit] 2005

• Male Performance: Leonardo DiCaprio (as Howard Hughes) - The Aviator
  • Matt Damon (as Jason Bourne) - The Bourne Supremacy
  • Jamie Foxx (as Ray Charles) - Ray
  • Brad Pitt - Troy
  • Will Smith - Hitch

• Female Performance: Lindsay Lohan - Mean Girls
  • Rachel McAdams - The Notebook
  • Natalie Portman - Garden State
  • Hilary Swank (as Maggie Fitzgerald) - Million Dollar Baby
  • Uma Thurman (as The Bride) - Kill Bill Vol. 2

[edit] 2006: (joined)

• Jake Gyllenhaal (as Jack Twist) - Brokeback Mountain
  • Steve Carell - The 40-Year-Old Virgin
  • Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
  • Rachel McAdams (as Lisa Reisert) - Red Eye
  • Joaquin Phoenix (as Johnny Cash) - Walk the Line
  • Reese Witherspoon (as June Carter Cash) - Walk the Line

[edit] 2007: (joined)

• Johnny Depp (as Jack Sparrow) - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
  • Gerard Butler - 300
  • Jennifer Hudson (as Effie White) - Dreamgirls
  • Keira Knightley (as Elizabeth) - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
  • Beyoncé Knowles (as Deena Jones) - Dreamgirls
  • Will Smith (as Chris Gardner) - The Pursuit of Happyness

[edit] 2008

• Male Performance: Will Smith (as Robert Neville) - I Am Legend
  • Michael Cera - Juno
  • Matt Damon (as Jason Bourne) - The Bourne Ultimatum
  • Shia LaBeouf (as Sam Witwicky) - Transformers
  • Denzel Washington (as Frank Lucas) - American Gangster

• Female Performance: Ellen Page (as Juno MacGuff) - Juno
  • Amy Adams - Enchanted
  • Jessica Biel - I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
  • Katherine Heigl - Knocked Up
  • Keira Knightley (as Elizabeth) - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

[edit] 2009

• Male Performance: Zac Efron (as Troy Bolton) - High School Musical 3: Senior Year
  • Christian Bale (as Bruce Wayne / Batman) - The Dark Knight
  • Vin Diesel - Fast & Furious
  • Robert Downey, Jr. (as Tony Stark / Iron Man) - Iron Man
  • Shia LaBeouf - Eagle Eye

• Female Performance: Kristen Stewart (as Bella Swan) - Twilight
  • Anne Hathaway - Bride Wars
  • Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • Angelina Jolie - Wanted
  • Kate Winslet (as Hanna Schmitz) - The Reader

[edit] 2010

• Male Performance: Robert Pattinson (as Edward Cullen) - The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  • Zac Efron - 17 Again
  • Taylor Lautner (as Jacob Black) - The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  • Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry Potter) - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  • Channing Tatum - Dear John

• Female Performance: Kristen Stewart (as Bella Swan) - The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  • Sandra Bullock (as Leigh Anne Tuohy) - The Blind Side
  • Zoe Saldana - Avatar
  • Amanda Seyfried - Dear John
  • Emma Watson (as Hermione Granger) - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[edit] 2011

• Male Performance: Robert Pattinson (as Edward Cullen) - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • Zac Efron (as Charlie St. Cloud) - Charlie St. Cloud
  • Jesse Eisenberg (as Mark Zuckerberg) - The Social Network
  • Taylor Lautner (as Jacob Black) - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry Potter) - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

• Female Performance: Kristen Stewart (as Bella Swan) - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • Jennifer Aniston - Just Go with It
  • Natalie Portman (as Nina Sayers) - Black Swan
  • Emma Stone (as Olive Penderghast) - Easy A
  • Emma Watson (as Hermione Granger) - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

[edit] 2012

• Male Performance: TBA
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Adam Lerner) - 50/50
  • Ryan Gosling (as Driver) - Drive
  • Josh Hutcherson (as Peeta Mellark) - The Hunger Games
  • Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry Potter) - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
  • Channing Tatum (as Leo Collins) - The Vow

• Female Performance: TBA
  • Jennifer Lawrence (as Katniss Everdeen) - The Hunger Games
  • Rooney Mara (as Lisbeth Salander) - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
  • Emma Stone (as Hannah Weaver) - Crazy, Stupid, Love
  • Emma Watson (as Hermione Granger) - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
  • Kristen Wiig (as Annie Walker) - Bridesmaids

MTV Movie Awards
2012 MTV Movie Awards
200px
Awarded for	Teen popularity in film
Presented by	MTV
Country	United States
First awarded	1992
Official website	www.mtv.com/​ontv/​movieawards/

The MTV Movie Awards is a film awards show presented annually on MTV. The nominees are decided by producers and executives at MTV. Winners are decided online by the general public. Presently voting is done through MTV's official website through a special Movie Awards link at movieawards.mtv.com.

Production process[link]

Unlike its sister event MTV Video Music Awards (which are broadcast live), the MTV Movie Awards (up to 2007) were taped and then broadcast a few days later.^[1] The entire production was taped in a completely different order than what the MTV viewing audience saw. For example, the show's host would tape all his/her monologues and introductions at one time, and all the musical acts would perform one after the other. Celebrities would often only appear at the live taping for the announcement of their award category, and members of the general audience fill their vacant seats during the other times. Through clever editing, MTV was able to present to its viewing audience an awards show which appears to be taped in live sequence, with celebrities sticking around for the whole show. This method of production allowed foul language to be edited from the show and also is more convenient for celebrities. The actual live taping aired same-day on pay-per-view channels in most metropolitan cities around the world. Some awards telecasts had also been shown in television syndication. However, in 2007, this changed, as MTV and Survivor producer Mark Burnett (who took over duties from Joel Gallen for the 2007 awards) announced the '07 edition would be broadcast live on MTV for the first time on June 3, 2007 in Los Angeles.

Current award categories[link]

• Best Movie
• Best Performance (usually separated into Male and Female categories)
• Best Breakthrough Performance (sometimes separated into Male and Female categories)
• Best Cast
• Best On-Screen Dirt Bag
• Best Gut-Wrenching Performance
• Best Comedic Performance
• Best Music
• Best Kiss
• Best Fight
• Best Hero

Past award categories[link]

• Most Desirable Male (1992–1996)
• Most Desirable Female (1992–1996)
• Best Action Sequence (1992–2005)
• Best New Filmmaker (1992–2002)
• Best Dance Sequence (1995, 1998, 2001, 2004)
• Best Sandwich in a Movie (1996)
• Best Cameo (2001–2002, 2004)
• Best Dressed (2001–2002)
• Best Virtual Performance (2003)
• Best Video Game Based on a Movie (2005)
• Biggest Badass Star (2010-2011)
• Sexiest Performance (2006)
• Best Summer Movie You Haven't Seen Yet (2007)
• Best Summer Movie So Far (2008)
• Global Superstar (2010)
• Best Line From a Movie (2011)
• Best Scared-as-S**t Performance (2005-2006, 2010-2011)

Lifetime Achievement Award/MTV Generation Award/MTV Trailblazer Award[link]

MTV has awarded at least three fictional characters their version of the Academy Honorary Award: Godzilla, Jason Voorhees, and Chewbacca. Jason was awarded the honor in 1992. Godzilla was awarded it in 1996, and Chewbacca the following year. (Carrie Fisher presented him with a medal identical to that which Han Solo and Luke Skywalker were given by Princess Leia, who was portrayed by Fisher, at the ceremony at the end of Star Wars since it was a long running complaint that Chewbacca never received one in the movie). The category existed as a spoof award through 1997, where other recipients included Jackie Chan and Richard Roundtree. In 1998, Clint Howard was the last person given the award. The award was retired in 1998, but reemerged seven years later as the MTV Generation Award; Tom Cruise in 2005, Jim Carrey in 2006,^[2] Mike Myers in 2007, Adam Sandler in 2008, Ben Stiller in 2009,^[3] Sandra Bullock in 2010,^[4] Reese Witherspoon in 2011,^[5] and Johnny Depp in 2012. Emma Stone will be awarded the first MTV Trailblazer Award on the 2012 show.

Years[link]

Film parodies[link]

Since 1993, scenes are spoofed, mostly from that year's most popular films, although television shows and older movies have also been chosen. This may include sound and video montages, replacing some of the original cast with other actors (commonly, the hosts of each year's show) generally mocking the scenes of that film. The diversity of the spoofs can vary greatly, from one dialogue (such as in 2005) to several long scenes, including fighting and action sequences (2003).

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Steve Hochman, Awards as American as 'Pie' and Other Silliness; Television, L.A. Times, June 7, 2000, Calendar page 3;

External links[link]

• 2012 MTV Movie Awards Official Site
• 2011 MTV Movie Awards Official Site
• 2010 MTV Movie Awards Official Site
• 2009 MTV Movie Awards Official Site
• 2008 MTV Movie Awards Official Site
• MTV Movie Awards Official Archive
• MTV Movie website
• Best Spoofs from the MTV Movie Awards
• 2007 MTV Movie Awards Spoof site

Jim Carrey
Carrey at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
Born	James Eugene Carrey (1962-01-17) January 17, 1962 (age 50) Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Actor, comedian, producer
Years active	1979–present
Height	6' 2"
Spouse	Melissa Womer (1987–1995) Lauren Holly (1996–1997)
Partner	Jenny McCarthy (2005–2010) Anastasia Vitkina (2011–present)
Children	1
Website
JimCarrey.com

James Eugene "Jim" Carrey (born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, and producer. Carrey has received four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning two. Known for his highly energetic, slapstick performances, he has been described as one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood.^[1]

Carrey first gained recognition in 1990 after landing a recurring role in the sketch comedy In Living Color. His first leading roles in major productions came with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Dumb and Dumber (1994), The Mask (1994), and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995). In 1997, he gave a critically acclaimed performance in Liar Liar, which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor. He then starred in the critically acclaimed hits The Truman Show (1998) and Man on the Moon (1999), both garnering him two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor.

In 2000, he gained further recognition for his portrayal of the The Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Three years later, Carrey starred in the major blockbuster film Bruce Almighty (2003). The following year he starred in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), for which he received another Golden Globe nomination in addition to a BAFTA Award nomination. He then starred in popular productions Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), Fun with Dick and Jane (2005), Yes Man (2008), A Christmas Carol (2009), and Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011).

He is set to star in Burt Wonderstone in 2013 as Steve Gray, in addition to reprising his role as Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber 2 in 2014. He is also set to star as Mr. Applegate in a film adaption of the broadway musical Damn Yankees.

Early life[link]

Carrey was born in Newmarket, Ontario, the son of Kathleen (née Oram), a homemaker, and Percy Carrey, a musician and accountant.^[2][3] He has three older siblings, John, Patricia, and Rita. He was raised Roman Catholic.^[4][5] His mother was of French,  Irish,  and Scottish descent^[6] and his father was of French Canadian ancestry (the family's original surname was Carré).^[7][8] After his family moved to Scarborough, Ontario, when Carrey was 14 years old, he attended Blessed Trinity Catholic School, in North York, for two years, enrolled at Agincourt Collegiate Institute for another year, then briefly attended Northview Heights Secondary School for the remainder of his high school career (all together, he spent three years in Grade 10).

Carrey lived in Burlington, Ontario, for eight years and attended Aldershot High School, where he once opened for 1980s new wave band Spoons. In a Hamilton Spectator interview (February 2007), Carrey remarked, "If my career in show business hadn't panned out I would probably be working today in Hamilton, Ontario at the Dofasco steel mill." When looking across the Burlington Bay toward Hamilton, he could see the mills and thought, "Those were where the great jobs were."^[9] At this point, he already had experience working in a science testing facility in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Career[link]

Early work[link]

While struggling to obtain work and making a name for himself, Carrey's father decided to help the young comedian put together a stage act, driving him to Toronto to debut at comedy club Yuk Yuk's.^[10] Unfortunately, Carrey's impersonations bombed and this gave him doubts about his capability as a professional entertainer. His family, at the time, were struggling financially meaning it was difficult for them to support Carrey's ambitions. Eventually, the family's financial problems were soon dealt with and they moved into a new home.^[10] With a now more domestic stability, Carrey worked up the nerve to return to the stage with a more polished act. In a short period of time, Carrey went from open mic nights to regular paid shows; a growing reputation building in the process. One reviewer in the Toronto Star raved that Carrey was "a genuine star coming to life."^[11] Carrey was soon noticed by comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who signed the young comedian to open Dangerfield's tour performances.^[12] He eventually brought Carrey to Las Vegas, after which he decided to move to Hollywood. Carrey began performing at The Comedy Store and in 1982, appeared on the televised stand-up show An Evening at the Improv.^[13] The following year, he debuted his act on The Tonight Show.^[14]

Despite his increasing popularity as a stand-up comedian, Carrey turned his attention to the film and television industries, auditioning to be a cast member for the 1980–1981 season of NBC's Saturday Night Live. Carrey was not selected for the position (although he did host the show in May 1996, and again in January 2011^[15] ). He was, after a period of time, cast in seveal low-budget films: Rubberface (1981) playing a struggling young comic, and Copper Mountain (1983) playing a sex-starved teen, the latter including his impersonation of Sammy Davis Jr. Since the film had a less than one hour runtime consisting largely of musical performances by Rita Coolidge and Ronnie Hawkins, it was not considered a full-length feature film.

In 1984, Carrey was soon cast, surprisingly, as the lead in the NBC sitcom The Duck Factory, in which he played a quirky young artist alongside Jay Tarses. However, the show was unceremoniously cancelled during its first season. Despite the sudden cancellation, Carrey landed supporting roles in several low-budget films: Once Bitten (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), and The Dead Pool (1988). When Carrey returned to stand-up, he retired his old act vowing that he didn't want to be famous for imitating other people; "Some nights it was a melee, literally, where I'd be standing trying to defend myself for what I was doing. People would be screaming at me to do my old act, and getting actually violent and angry at me,".^[14] While many thought he was "crazy" for retiring his old act, others were increasingly interested in what Carrey was attempting to do, Judd Apatow in particular. The pair struck up a friendship and soon began writing material together.

Carrey continued to land small roles in film and television productions, which led to a friendship with fellow comedian Damon Wayans, who co-starred with Carrey as an extraterrestrial in 1989's Earth Girls Are Easy. Damon soon introduced Carrey to his brother Keenen, who at the time, was creating a sketch comedy show known as In Living Color, for the new Fox network. Carrey eventually landed a recurring role in the show which first aired on April 15, 1990. By the third season, Carrey was one of the few remaining original cast members and was ready to move onto bigger things, after agreeing to take on his first lead role in a Hollywood blockbuster film.

Rise to fame[link]

Carrey did not experience true stardom until landing the lead role in the slapstick comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), which premiered only months before In Living Color ended. Despite agreeing to play the title character, Carrey would only take the role if he was allowed to rewrite the script, mostly to suit his over-the-top visions. The film, while dismissed by most critics, was an international hit, and transformed Carrey into a bankable box-office star overnight. In that same year, he landed two lead roles in The Mask and Dumb and Dumber, respectively. The Mask garnered him his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor nomination, with Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praising him for his "joyful performance".^[16] Well-received by critics, Dumb and Dumber was a commercial success, grossing over $270 million worldwide,^[17] and again boosting Carrey's fanbase.

Carrey in Madrid, Spain on December 13, 2008.

In 1995, Carrey starred in the Joel Schumacher-directed superhero film Batman Forever, in which Batman tries to stop Two-Face and the Riddler (played by Carrey) in their villainous scheme to drain information from all the brains in Gotham City. The feature received reasonable reviews upon release with most criticism aimed towards the movie's "blatant commercialism", as stated by Peter Travers.^[18] In that same year, Carrey reprised his role as Ace Ventura in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. Like the original film, it was well-received by the public but heavily criticised by critics. However, it was a huge box-office success, earning $212 million worldwide in addition to breaking records, with a $40 million opening weekend.^[19] Carrey earned $20 million for his next film, The Cable Guy (1996). Directed by Ben Stiller, Carrey played a lonely, slightly menacing cable TV installer who infiltrates the life of one of his customers (played by Matthew Broderick). The film tested Carrey's boundaries of his tried and true "hapless, hyper, overconfident" characters that he is known for regularly playing. However, it did not fare well with critics, many reacting towards Carrey's change of tone to previous films.^[20] Despite the reviews, The Cable Guy grossed $102 million worldwide.^[21]

He soon bounced back in 1997 with the critically acclaimed comedy Liar Liar, playing Fletcher Reede, an incredibly successful lawyer who has built his career on lying, regularly breaking promises that he makes to his son Max. Max soon makes a birthday wish that for just one day, his dad can't tell a lie. Carrey was praised for his performance, earning a second Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor. Janet Maslin of The New York Times said, "Well into his tumultuous career, Mr. Carrey finally turns up in a straightforward comic vehicle, and the results are much wilder and funnier than this mundane material should have allowed."^[22]

Critical acclaim[link]

The following year he decided to take a pay cut to play the serious role of Truman Burbank in the satirical comedy-drama film The Truman Show (1998).^[23] The film was highly praised and brought Carrey further international acclaim, leading many to believe he would be nominated for an Oscar.^[24] However, he did pick up his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. The Truman Show was a commercial success also, earning $264 million worldwide against a budget of $60 million.^[25][26] According to a Film4 critic, the film, "...allows Carrey to edge away from broad comedy." but nonetheless called it "A hilarious and breathtakingly conceived satire..."^[27] That same year, Carrey appeared as a fictionalized version of himself on the final episode of Garry Shandling's The Larry Sanders Show, in which he deliberately ripped into Shandling's character. In 1999, Carrey had the lead role in Man on the Moon. He portrayed comedian Andy Kaufman to critical acclaim,^[28] with many believing that Carrey would finally be nominated for Best Actor. He again received his second Golden Globe Award for the second consecutive year. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times commented on Carrey's performance stating, "A brilliant, almost terrifying impersonation."

In 2000, Carrey reteamed with the Farrelly Brothers, who had directed him in Dumb and Dumber, in the comedy classic, Me, Myself & Irene, a film that received mixed reviews^[29] but enjoyed box office success. Carrey played the role of state trooper Charlie Baileygates, who has multiple personalities and romances a woman portrayed by Renée Zellweger. That same year, Carrey starred in the second highest grossing Christmas film of all time, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, playing the title character, for which he received praise and criticism.^[30] The film garnered him his third Golden Globe Award nomination in addition to countless other nominations and several wins.

For his next feature film, Carrey starred opposite Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman in Tom Shadyac's international hit comedy Bruce Almighty (2003). Carrey played a TV newsman who unexpectedly receives God's omnipotent abilities when the deity decides to take a break. The film received mixed reviews upon release^[31] but despite this was a financial success, earning over $484 million worldwide, and going on to become the seventeenth highest-grossing live action comedy of all time. The film has since gained a cult following.^[19][32] In 2004, Carrey starred in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The film received overwhelming acclaim upon release; Carrey was highly praised for his portrayal of Joel Barish, in addition to his co-star Kate Winslet, who received an Oscar nomination. According to CNN's reviewer Paul Clinton, Carrey's performance was "the best, most mature and sharply focused performance ever."^[33] He received his fourth Golden Globe Award nomination, and was also nominated for his first BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Carrey at the Yes Man premiere in 2008

Carrey's next appearance was in the 2004 black comedy drama film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which was based on the popular children's novels of the same name. The film received a positive reception, with Desson Thomson from The Washington Post commenting on Carrey's approach to the character of Count Olaf, stating "Olaf is a humorless villain in the book. He's not amusing like Carrey at all. To which I would counter: If you can't let Carrey be Carrey, put someone boring and less expensive in the role. In his various disguises he's rubbery, inventive and improvisationally inspired. I particularly liked his passing imitation of a dinosaur."^[34][35] That same year, Carrey was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame.^[36] In 2005, Carrey starred in a remake of Fun with Dick and Jane, playing Dick, a husband who becomes a bank robber after he loses his job. The film was dismissed by most critics but did manage to become a box office hit.

Continued success[link]

In 2007, Carrey reunited with Joel Schumacher, director of Batman Forever, for The Number 23, a psychological thriller co-starring Virginia Madsen and Danny Huston. In the film, Carrey plays a man who becomes obsessed with the number 23, after finding a book about a man with the same obsession. The film was lauded by critics and did not fare well at the box office. The following year Carrey provided his voice for Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (2008). Carrey voiced the beloved elephant for the CGI-animated feature, which received overwhelmingly positive reviews and delivered family crowds en masse. The film was also a box office success raking in over $290 million worldwide.^[37] Later in the year, Carrey returned to live action comedy, starring opposite Zooey Deschanel and Bradley Cooper in Yes Man (2008). Carrey played down-and-out man, Carl Allen, who had gone nowhere in life, thanks to always saying no to everything, until he signs up for a self-help program that teaches him the power of saying yes. Despite reviews being mixed, Rene Rodriquez of The Miami Herald stated, "Yes Man is fine as far as Jim Carrey comedies go, but it's even better as a love story that just happens to make you laugh."^[38] The film had a decent performance at the box office, earning $225 million worldwide.

Since 2009, Carrey's work has included a leading role in Glenn Ficarra and John Requa's I Love You Phillip Morris, premiering in January 2009 at the Sundance Film Festival before receiving a wide release in February 2010. Carrey portrayed Steven Jay Russell, a con artist, imposter and multiple prison escapee who falls in love with his fellow inmate, Phillip Morris (played by Ewan McGregor). The film received largely positive reviews with Damon Wise of The Times giving the film four stars out of five, stating, "I Love You Phillip Morris" is an extraordinary film that serves as a reminder of just how good Carrey can be when he's not tied into a generic Hollywood crowd-pleaser. His comic timing remains as exquisite as ever."^[39]

For the first time in his career, Carrey portrayed multiple characters in Disney's 3D animated take on the classic Charles Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol (2009), voicing Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film also starred Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman and Cary Elwes. The film received reasonable reviews and was a financial success. In 2011, Carrey landed the lead role in Mr. Popper's Penguins, playing Thomas "Tom" Popper Jr. a realtor who becomes the caretaker of a family of penguins. The film received a mixed reception upon release.^[40] He is set to star alongside former co-star Steve Carell in the Don Scardino-directed comedy film Burt Wonderstone (2013). Carrey will play Steve Gray, a dangerous street magician who overshadows Burt Wonderstone (played by Carell), a formerly successful magician whos partnership with another magician ends; Gray must convince Burts old partner to return to the act. Carrey entered negotiations for the role in October 2011. Principal photography began on January 10, 2012 and concluded on March 13. The film is currently in post-production.

On April 1, 2012 it was confirmed that Carrey, along with Jeff Daniels, would return for Dumb and Dumber 2. Bobby and Peter Farrelly are scheduled to direct and write the script, with the movie going into production in September 2012.^[41]

As of April 2012, Carrey's films have grossed over $4.6 billion worldwide, unadjusted for inflation.^[42]

Personal life[link]

Relationships[link]

Carrey with his family at the Horton Hears a Who! premiere in 2008.

Carrey has been married twice. His first marriage was to former actress and Comedy Store waitress Melissa Womer, whom he married on March 28, 1987. The two divorced in 1995. A year later Carrey married his Dumb and Dumber co-star Lauren Holly, on September 23, 1996; the marriage lasted less than a year.^[43] In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Carrey was involved in a series of relationships, including Laurie Holden, January Jones, and Anine Bing. In addition, Carrey had a much-publicized yet short-lived romance with his Me, Myself and Irene co-star Renée Zellweger, whom he dated, and at one point engaged, from 1999 to 2000.^[44]

Carrey met model and actress Jenny McCarthy in 2005 and made their relationship public in June 2006. In April 2010, the two ended their near five-year relationship.^[45] Despite the split and media circulations, McCarthy stated in October 2010 that, "Jim and I are still good friends".^[46]

Family[link]

Carrey has one child, a daughter named Jane Erin Carrey (born September 6, 1987 in Los Angeles County) from his first marriage.^[47] Carrey announced via his Twitter account on February 27, 2010, in Los Angeles^[48] that his daughter had given birth to her first child with musician husband Alex Santana. He announced that his grandson's name was Jackson Riley Santana.

Citizenship[link]

Carrey received U.S. citizenship in October 2004 and remains a dual citizen of both the United States and his native Canada.^[49]

Beliefs[link]

Carrey has been a critic of the scientific consensus that no evidence links the childhood MMR vaccination to the development of autism, and wrote an article questioning the merits of vaccination and vaccine research for the Huffington Post.^[50] With former partner Jenny McCarthy, Carrey led a "Green Our Vaccines" march in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the removal of toxins from children's vaccines, out of a belief that children had received "too many vaccines, too soon, many of which are toxic".^[51]

Filmography[link]

Actor[link]

Producer[link]

Other appearances[link]

Other accolades[link]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Jim Carrey

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jim Carrey

• Official website
• Jim Carrey at the Internet Movie Database
• Jim Carrey's channel on YouTube
• Jim Carrey on Twitter