If you grew up in the ’90s, chances are Jim Carrey played a significant role in your entertainment world. Whether you first encountered him as Ace Ventura or spent late nights quoting lines from Dumb and Dumber with friends, his comedic impact is undeniable. While Carrey was busy making some of the highest-grossing comedies of all time, he was also crafting his unique off-screen persona.
From rubbing cheese on his hands to engaging in a graffiti battle with New York City police, these strange stories about Jim Carrey will give you a new perspective on the goofy Canadian star you thought you knew.
#1. A Shocking Video for Emma Stone
In August 2011, Jim Carrey caused a stir by publicly sharing a video that resembled a love letter to Emma Stone. In the video, he expresses his desire to marry her and have her “chubby little freckle-faced kids.” At that time, Stone was just 23 years old. In response, Stone commented that she didn’t know whether to feel “flattered or [to] seek an order of protection.” Carrey later claimed the video was meant to be a joke and part of one of his characters.
#2. A Controversial Stance on Vaccines
Jim Carrey’s controversial views on vaccines became more public after his relationship with Jenny McCarthy. He posted tweets questioning the safety of mercury in vaccines, saying, “They say mercury in fish is dangerous but forcing all of our children to be injected with mercury in thimerosol [sic] is no risk. Make sense?” He clarified, “I am not anti-vaccine. I am anti-thimerosal, anti-mercury.” While most vaccines no longer contain mercury, the compound in question is ethylmercury, which naturally degrades in the body, unlike the more harmful methylmercury found in fish.
#3. A Graffiti Feud with the Police
In 2011, Carrey found himself at odds with the NYPD after he began spray-painting the exterior of his West Village art studio with a character he called “Baba.” According to Carrey, Baba was a “mischievous deity… [who] exists in negative space.” After police covered up his first painting, Carrey returned with another version, this time adding the message, “This graffiti reapply pursuant to… [drawing of Baba]… Ordinance FFC.”
#4. A Cheesy Moment on Set
Method acting is a common practice, and Jim Carrey is known for fully immersing himself in his roles. While filming Man on the Moon in 1999, Carrey reportedly stuffed his pockets with Limburger cheese. Co-star Paul Giamatti recalled that Carrey would constantly hug people with cheese all over his hands, making sure everyone was forced to shake his hands. “He smelled horrible,” Giamatti remembered, underscoring Carrey’s dedication to embodying the eccentricity of his character, Andy Kaufman.
#5. A Public Attack on Tiger Woods’s Ex
When news broke of Tiger Woods’ infidelity, Jim Carrey shared his thoughts on Twitter, sparking controversy. He tweeted, “No wife is blind enough to miss that much infidelity. Elin had 2 b a willing participant on the ride 4 whatever reason. kids/lifestyle…” His comments implied that Woods’s ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, may have turned a blind eye to his behavior, which led to backlash from the public.
#6. Dark Secrets from His Childhood
Before Jim Carrey became a household name, he had a passion for art. He told Rolling Stone about how he used to create realistic drawings of his father. Carrey said, “I did pencil sketches and stuff like that. My parents would come into the room and ask, ‘What are you drawing?’ It would be my dad looking at his watch with a gun in his hand. ‘It’s a portrait of you,’ I said. ‘It’s called Waiting to Die.'”
#7. A Troubled Past with Relationships
Carrey’s 1995 interview with Rolling Stone revealed that he is a people pleaser who sometimes takes on too much. After his breakout role on NBC’s Duck Factory, Carrey brought his family from Canada to live with him. When things became challenging, he decided they couldn’t live together anymore. Carrey admitted to having disturbing dreams about strangling his mother. “I still supported them until I ran out of money. I went bankrupt,” he shared, reflecting on the toll these experiences took on him.
#8. More Troublesome Relationships
Jim Carrey’s personal relationships have frequently been tumultuous. In a 1995 Rolling Stone interview, his ex-wife, her lawyer, his then-girlfriend, and Carrey himself offered insights into why his relationships often fail. His ex-wife, Melissa Womer, recalled telling him, “You must come home and put your feet back on the ground and take your garbage out like everyone else, or I can’t be married to you.” Carrey’s response was candid: “She’s lucky to be out of my life. I’m in a different time zone at this point.”
#9. A Surprising Musical Talent
After his 2011 breakup with Jenny McCarthy, Carrey seemed to be in a personal and professional rut. He made an unexpected appearance in New York City, fronting a cover band that performed songs like Radiohead’s Creep and Smashing Pumpkins’ Bullet With Butterfly Wings. His choice to cover Creep was especially surprising to his fans, as Carrey introduced the song as his “new theme song,” marking a departure from his typically upbeat public persona.
