Jim Carrey

Date of birth: 01.17.1962

James Eugene (Jim) Carrey - Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer.

Best known for films 'The Mask' (1994), 'Dumb and Dumber' (1994), 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' (1994), 'Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls' (1995), 'Batman Forever' (1995), 'Liar Liar' (1997), 'True Crime' (1998), 'Man on the Moon' (1999), 'Bruce Almighty' (2003), 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004). He is one of the highest-paid comedians in the USA.

Place of birth. Education. James Eugene Carrey was born on January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Canada. His parents were Kathleen Carrey (née Oram), a singer and later a homemaker, and Percy Carrey, a self-taught saxophonist and accountant. Jim has older sisters Pat and Rita, and an older brother John. Jim grew up in a Catholic family. His ancestors were Irish, Scottish, French, and initially, his surname was spelled Carré. When Jim turned 14, his family moved to Scarborough (Ontario), where Jim spent two years at Blessed Trinity North York. The following year he attended Agincourt Collegiate Institute and briefly Northview Heights Secondary School (overall Jim spent three years in 10th grade).

Financial problems in the family began during Jim's school years. When his father lost his job, the entire family had to move to Scarborough, where Percy found work as a security guard at the 'Titian Wheels' factory on the outskirts of Toronto. There the entire Carrey family had to take jobs. After school, Jim, his sister, and brother had to clean, wash floors, and toilets. During this time, Jim became a withdrawn child.

After Percy found work, the family moved again, this time to Burlington, Ontario. Jim spent 8 years there, attending high school (Aldershot School), and in 1979 formed a band called 'New Wave' 'Spoons'. He also worked at the Dofasco steel mill.

Film career. Even as a child, Jim loved to parody. Even then, he entertained classmates, relatives, and parodied Brezhnev and Jack Nicholson.

In the early 80s, Jim moved to Los Angeles and began performing at the 'Comedy Store'. There, he caught the attention of famous American comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who offered him to open his shows. From that time, Carrey began to turn his attention to television and tried to audition for the NBC show 'Saturday Night Live' for the 1980-81 season, but unsuccessfully (Jim eventually got on, but as a guest host in May 1996 and January 2011). Mostly, Carrey parodied celebrities. He enjoyed popularity among the audience, and in 1984, 'People' magazine recognized him as one of the best young American comedians. His first major television role was the animated producer Skip Tarquenton in the children’s animated program 'DuckTales'.

In 1983, Jim made his debut...