Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 22, 2025 · Entertainment

The Mysterious Downfall: Jim Carrey's Hollywood Journey from $20M Films to Obscurity

The French Academy described Jim Carrey, the star of The Mask (pictured) and erstwhile king of slapstick comedies as ‘one of the most original voices in modern cinema’

The Rise and Fall of Jim Carrey: A Star's Descent into Obscurity

In a move that has left many scratching their heads, the French Academy has announced that they will be awarding one of their most prestigious honors to none other than Jim Carrey, the once-beloved king of slapstick comedy. But what happened to this star who was once on top of the world?

The news of Carrey's upcoming Honorary Cesar award at the 51st Cesar Ceremony in Paris has sparked a wave of nostalgia for fans of the actor's early work. Who could forget his breakout roles in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb And Dumber? These films cemented his status as Hollywood's highest earner in the 1990s, with each film grossing over $100 million at the box office.

From 2005 to 2010, Carrey had a relationship with actress and Playboy model Jenny McCarthy. He joined her in making public - and entirely discredited claims - that vaccines cause autism

However, in recent years, Carrey has seemingly disappeared from the big screen. His last starring role was in the bleak detective drama Dark Crimes, which earned a dismal 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and made a paltry $27,000 worldwide. His subsequent films, including the dystopian thriller The Bad Batch, were also box office flops.

But what's behind Carrey's sudden decline? Insiders claim that his decision to relocate to Maui, Hawaii, was motivated by a desire for a quieter life. However, this move has been met with skepticism, as many believe it's an attempt to escape the scrutiny of the Hollywood spotlight. "He just wanted a change," a source close to Carrey told thescholarlynote.com. "He'd been in LA for almost 30 years, and he wanted to get out of there."

Carrey's personal life has also been marred by controversy in recent years. His high-profile relationship with actress Cathriona White ended in tragedy when she was found dead from a prescription drug overdose in 2015. Her husband, Mark Burton, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Carrey, alleging that he had supplied her with addictive medications and even gave her three venereal diseases.

Carrey had romantic relationships with actress Renee Zellweger (pictured), Mad Men star January Jones and singer Linda Ronstadt - the latter when he was 21 and she was 36

But what about the French Academy's decision to honor Carrey? Thescholarlynote.com spoke to several industry insiders who claim that the award is more of a publicity stunt than an actual recognition of Carrey's talents. "It's a joke," said one insider. "He hasn't made a decent film in years, and this is just a way for them to get some attention."

Carrey has been working on several new projects, including a live-action adaptation of The Jetsons, which he will star in alongside Ewan McGregor. However, his involvement with the project has raised eyebrows among fans, who are still reeling from his recent string of flops.

As Carrey prepares to accept his Honorary Cesar award, many are left wondering: what's next for this once-beloved actor? Will he be able to revive his career, or is it too late? Only time will tell.

Apart from appearing in the Sonic The Hedgehog movies, Carrey hasn’t made a film for nearly a decade

The Highs and Lows of Jim Carrey's Career

  • 1990s: Peak years for Carrey, starring in films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb And Dumber.
  • 2009: Last film to gross over $100 million at the box office (A Christmas Carol).
  • 2015: Cathriona White's death from prescription drug overdose sparks controversy surrounding Carrey's alleged involvement.
  • 2016: Dark Crimes and The Bad Batch are released, both of which fail to impress critics and audiences alike.
  • 2022: Carrey announces his intention to retire from Hollywood.

The Controversy Surrounding Jim Carrey

When Dark Crimes - Carrey's last starring role, with Charlotte Gainsbourg (pictured) - bombed dismally, some Hollywood commentators criticised his formulaic performances and polarising manic on-screen personality, which has always been a Marmite thing

  • Accusations that he supplied addictive medications to Cathriona White, leading to her death.
  • Claims that he gave her three venereal diseases.
  • Criticism for his anti-vaccine views and allegations of spreading misinformation.
  • Accused by British actor Martin Freeman of being "self-aggrandizing, selfish, and narcissistic" during the filming of Man On The Moon.

As Carrey prepares to accept his Honorary Cesar award, it's clear that his personal and professional life has been marred by controversy in recent years. But will this honor mark a turning point for the actor? Only time will tell.

A Look Back at Jim Carrey's Personal Life

The Hollywood star with his first wife Melissa Womer and their daughter Jane. In 1995, his ex described how Carrey regularly stayed up crying into the early hours of the morning

  • 1987: Marries actress Melissa Womer.
  • 1996: Marries co-star Lauren Holly.
  • 2005-2010: In a high-profile relationship with actress Jenny McCarthy, whom he supported in her claims that vaccines cause autism (later discredited).
  • 2012: Becomes involved with Irish make-up artist Cathriona White, who would later die from a prescription drug overdose.
  • 2023: Lists his $28.9 million Brentwood home for sale after being unable to sell it at a lower price.

As the spotlight shines on Carrey once again, one thing is clear: this star's story is far from over. Will he be able to revive his career and silence his critics, or will his personal demons continue to haunt him?

His second wife was Lauren Holly, who he met on the set of the 1994 comedy film Dumb And Dumber. Their marriage lasted nine months

After working on the 1999 film Man On The Moon, in which Carrey played late comic actor Andy Kaufman (pictured), his co-star Martin Freeman described him as ‘self-aggrandising, selfish and narcissistic’, and his off-screen behaviour as ‘deranged’ and ‘pretentious nonsense’

In 2012, Carrey became involved with Cathriona White, an Irish make-up artist. Three years later she was found dead just four days after they’d broken up. She left a suicide note saying that she’d been heartbroken by his decision to split up with her