page_title: Jim Carrey
section_title: 1994–1997: Rise to fame
hierarchical_section_title: Jim Carrey / Career / 1994–1997: Rise to fame
caption_attribution_description: Español: Jim Carrey, Premios 40 Principales Palacio de los Deportes, 12.12.08 Madrid, Espana
context_page_description: James Eugene Carrey is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, writer, producer, author, and artist. Known for his energetic slapstick performances, Carrey first gained recognition in 1990 after landing a recurring role in the American sketch comedy television series In Living Color. His first leading roles in motion pictures came with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, as well portraying the Riddler in Batman Forever, and the lead role in Liar Liar.
  In the 2000s, he gained further notice for his portrayal of the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and for the comedy Me, Myself & Irene, as well as Bruce Almighty, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Fun with Dick and Jane, Yes Man, Horton Hears a Who!, and A Christmas Carol. In the 2010s, Carrey starred in Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Kick-Ass 2, and reprised his role as Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber To. He portrayed Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog.
  Although largely typecast as a comedic actor, Carrey has had success in dramatic roles.
context_section_description: Carrey played the lead role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective which was released in February 1994 and went on to gross $72 million in the United States and Canada. Following its success and before the release of his next film, The Mask, which was anticipated to be another hit, Morgan Creek Productions paid him $5 million to reprise his role as Ace Ventura and New Line Cinema offered him $7 million to make a sequel to The Mask and paid him $7 million to appear in Dumb and Dumber. The Mask, released in July 1994, grossed $351 million worldwide, and Dumb and Dumber, released in December 1994, was another commercial success, grossing over $270 million worldwide. Carrey received his first Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor for his work in The Mask and was voted second on Quigley's Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll, behind Tom Hanks.
  Carrey portrayed the Batman villain The Riddler in the Joel Schumacher-directed superhero film Batman Forever (1995). The film received mixed reviews, but was a box office success. He reprised his role as Ace Ventura in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls which was also released in 1995. Like the original film, it was well received by the public, but poorly received by critics. It was a huge box-office success, earning $212 million worldwide in addition to breaking records, with a $40 million opening weekend.
  Carrey became the first actor to be paid $20 million for his next film, The Cable Guy (1996). Directed by Ben Stiller, the film was a satirical black comedy, in which Carrey played a lonely, menacing cable TV installer who infiltrates the life of one of his customers (played by Matthew Broderick). The role was a departure from the "hapless, hyper, overconfident" characters he had been known for. However, it did not fare well with most critics, many reacting to Carrey's change of tone from previous films. Carrey also starred in the music video of the film's closing song, "Leave Me Alone" by Jerry Cantrell. Despite the reviews, The Cable Guy grossed $102 million worldwide.
  He soon bounced back with the critically acclaimed comedy Liar Liar (1997), playing Fletcher Reede, an unethical lawyer rendered unable to lie by his young son's birthday wish. 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."
caption: Carrey in Madrid, Spain, on December 13, 2008
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