On January 17, Jim Carrey turns 64. The Hollywood actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer is known not only for his boundless talent but also for the scandals surrounding his personal life.
Trying to build a family
Jim first married Melissa Womer in 1987. They met at the Comedy Store, where they both worked. At the time, the unknown actor was selling comics, while Melissa was working as a waitress. Kerry fell in love with her but was reluctant to pursue a relationship. Only after two years of friendship did he dare ask Melissa out on a date. Their affection deepened, and a few months later, Kerry proposed. The wedding was a modest affair, as the newlyweds were saving every penny for their future together.
In poverty, but with each other: the couple initially struggled financially. Kerry wasn’t working, auditioning for roles, but getting rejected. Womer would later recall that during these years, their young family was seriously undernourished—hot chili and bread were the couple’s two staples during their first year of marriage.
Almost immediately after their wedding, the girl became pregnant—Jane Carrey was born on September 6, 1987. The actor doted on his daughter, but his family struggled to make ends meet. Soon, Jim’s mother became seriously ill, and he began caring for her, forcing him to put his job search on hold. In 1991, his mother died of kidney failure, and three years later, the actor’s father, Percy Carrey, died.
The loss of his parents hit Jim hard. He developed depression, which he tried to treat with medication. Carrey was increasingly less present at home, preferring to spend time alone with himself and his thoughts. Meanwhile, the actor’s wife and young daughter continued to be malnourished and lived in poverty. Because of these problems, Melissa often argued with Jim.
Finally, in 1994, the actor landed the lead role in Dumb and Dumber. The financial problem was resolved, but the couple’s relationship remained strained. In 1995, Jim Carrey filed for divorce from Melissa, rumored to be due to his affair with his co-star Lauren Holly.
Affairs with actresses
It’s unclear whether his affair with Lauren Holly truly destroyed Carrey and Womer’s marriage. However, it’s a fact that the actors began dating during filming. Moreover, Jim said he fantasized about the actress before he even met her and had seen her in films.
While filming Dumb and Dumber, he began to show Lauren his affections, and she, naturally, fell in love with her charismatic co-star. The two actors’ warm relationship led to their wedding in 1996. The marriage lasted less than a year. Lauren couldn’t cope with his violent temper. “There were moments when I would throw a glass against the wall,” the actor said of their marriage.
Jim Carrey continued dating his co-stars after his relationship with Lauren Hall. He began his next relationship with Renée Zellweger, whom he met on the set of Me, Myself & Irene. Their relationship lasted about a year, after which she began hinting at marriage, but he was unwilling to enter into another failed marriage.
True, when she was filming the first part of “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” he flew to her on set and presented her with an engagement ring. The actress was happy, but not for long. The longer the couple was together, the more Carrey became irritable toward his beloved.
“Jim suffers from manic depression. He’s prone to wild mood swings, and they were taking a toll on Renee,” one of the actress’s friends admitted to the press.
Renee and Jim had different visions for their future together. She dreamed of children, while Carrey, who had a teenage daughter at the time, didn’t want to become a parent again. He also had a unique perspective on relationships. Recognizing Carrey’s lack of commitment, Zellweger broke up with him in 2000.
After this, the actor didn’t date anyone for five years. In 2006, he revealed his relationship with actress and model Jenny McCarthy. Their union seemed ideal until 2010, when McCarthy said she could no longer date the hot-tempered actor and broke up with him.
The tragedy of the ex
In 2012, 53-year-old Jim Carrey began dating 28-year-old Cathriona White, a popular Hollywood stylist. The couple broke up after a few months, but they got back together briefly in 2015.
On September 24, Kerry dumped his girlfriend, and on September 25, she was found dead in her home. She had taken her own life by overdosing on pills. Before she did, she wrote on Twitter: “As I end my last tweet, I hope I’ve been kind to all my loved ones.”
After her death, her relatives sued Jim Carrey, accusing him of causing her suicide. It was the actor who introduced Cathriona to drugs, and according to the deceased’s mother, he also infected her daughter with an STD.
“He failed to inform White that he had herpes, chlamydia, and hepatitis. This was not only inappropriate but also criminal,” White’s lawyer told the media.
The press also received information from the girl’s therapist. He said that Catriona frequently complained to the doctor about Kerry’s temper, which included verbal abuse and raising his voice at the deceased. As evidence, the therapist cited the patient’s suicide note, in which she noted that she was haunted by a great fear that Kerry would “break into the apartment and hurt her.”
Jim Carrey himself denied all the accusations and said he truly loved White. He paid for her funeral in full and served as a pallbearer at the ceremony, looking dejected. “I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved. Kat’s problems began long before I met her, and sadly, her tragic end was beyond anyone’s control. I sincerely hope that soon people will stop trying to profit from this and allow her to rest in peace,” the actor said.
The tragic events put Jim Carrey off romance for several years. It wasn’t until 2019 that he appeared in public with a new partner—at the Golden Globes, the actor appeared with Ginger Gonzaga, whom he met on set. However, a few months later, US Weekly reported their breakup.
