Born:
February 17, 1962
in
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Best Known For:
His outrageous comedy performances.
Early-life:
James Eugene Carrey was born on January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. He's the youngest of four children. His father was an accountant and jazz musician. The family was so strapped for cash that at one point they all worked as cleaners in a factory and lived in their camper van to make ends meet. A natural performer from a young age, he had a routine he would do for anybody willing to watch and sent his CV to Carol Burnett when he was 10.
Career:
Carrey dropped out of high school at 16, but began appearing as a stand-up comedian in Toronto clubs. After moving to Los Angeles, he made a name for himself at The Comedy Store before moving into films and TV. Small roles in Peggy Sue Got Married, Earth Girls Are Easy and The Dead Pool followed. The series In Living Color helped make his name in the US, while the success of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective turned him into a global star. Hit films since include The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Liar Liar, The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. His recent work includes Mr Popper's Penguins, Kick-Ass 2 and Dumb and Dumber To.
Quote:
'I tend to stay up late, not because I'm partying, but because it's the only time of day when I'm alone and I don't have to be on, performing.'
Trivia:
He became an American citizen in 2004.