A Timeline Of Every Jim Carrey Red Carpet Date
Jim Carrey has been a familiar face in Hollywood for well over two decades now, which means that the popular actor has turned up at plenty of industry events over the years. And while he occasionally shows up on his own, he's just as likely to have an equally intriguing (and usually famous) lady posing beside him when the cameras start flashing.
Whether it's a premiere for one of his films or an A-list awards ceremony, Carrey tends to pose for the cameras with one (or two) of his co-stars or, at other times, he's invited his current romantic partner to make an appearance alongside him. Although there is one special lady who doesn't fit into either of those categories who has been spotted with Carrey more than once. Whoever he's with, the celeb has enjoyed the company of some pretty fabulous ladies while showing up for notable occasions. That's why you'll surely be interested to find out more about each and every one of his red carpet dates.
Jim Carrey's first wife was his first red carpet date
Jim Carrey went mainstream when he joined the cast of In Living Color in 1990. It took another four years for him to become a full-blown A-Lister when, in 1994, he starred in three smash hits: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. By this time, he'd already separated from his wife Melissa Carrey (neé Womer), who did accompany him to a few red carpet events prior to his big breakout, however photos of the pair at that time are extremely hard to come by. The two met when Jim was still a struggling stand-up comic, and Melissa was a waitress at the Comedy Store. They married in March 1987, and had a baby girl, Jane Erin Carrey, six months later.
The Carreys officially divorced in 1995 (around the time Jim appeared at the above red carpet event) after separating in 1993, supposedly due to the effect that burgeoning fame and fortune had on the star. Talking to Rolling Stone the year they divorced, Melissa revealed that she told her husband at the time: "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.'" While that might have motivated him to change his ways, instead, she says "he called [her] bluff" and with that, their wedded bliss was over.
This co-star has been a recurring red carpet date for Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey hit up the red carpet with another woman while he was technically still married to his first wife, Melissa Carrey — but there was nothing iffy going on. In 1994, the actor posed with Cameron Diaz at the premiere for The Mask, which they starred in together. And they weren't alone! The duo was joined by their canine co-star, a Jack Russell terrier named Max.
Forming a friendship that's lasted throughout the years, Carrey and Diaz have bumped into each other at various events, including the 1995 MTV Movie Awards, the 2003 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (pictured), AFI's Night At The Movies event in 2008, and even shared a kiss when she presented him with the Funniest M.F. award during Spike TV's 5th annual Guys Choice Awards in 2011.
If you love to see this pair together either on or offscreen, then you'll be happy to hear that Carrey told Esquire in February 2020 that he would be willing to tackle a sequel of The Mask as long as "some crazy visionary filmmaker" was on board to take the lead. If that were to happen, surely Diaz would be willing to return to the role alongside Carrey that made her famous in the first place, right? That being said, we can't see a reunion happening for the actor and the next co-star on this list considering the fact that the two are also exes.
Jim Carrey and Lauren Holly went from co-stars to spouses
Jim Carrey may have found a lasting friendship with Cameron Diaz, but he ended up finding romance with another on-screen love interest, Lauren Holly. The actress appeared with Carrey in 1994's Dumb and Dumber, and following his split from his first wife, they dated before marrying in 1996.
During their time together, Carrey and Holly hit up red carpets for premieres of films like 1995's Get Shorty, 1996's Batman Forever (above), and 1997's Liar Liar, just to name a few. While they always seemed to be happy while in front of the cameras, she filed for divorce just nine months after they tied the knot. When Carrey was asked (prior to their break-up) if he felt like Holly had only been with him for his money, he told Entertainment Weekly (via E! News), "No. ... There are certain PR advantages to being with me, and Lauren knows that, too, but the bottom line is she's made her way in this world, she's proven herself."
While Holly may or may not have benefitted from Carrey's fame, she also revealed that there was a downside to the fact that he is headline fodder. Speaking with George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight in 2013, Holly explained that photographers would sneak into their backyard to take pictures and "go through [their] garbage." We wonder if Carrey's next famous romantic partner had to deal with that kind of icky privacy-invading issue?
Renée Zellweger and Jim Carrey 'peaked' at the Golden Globes
Things may not have worked out between Jim Carrey and Lauren Holly, but that didn't stop him from attempting to find love with another co-star, and next up was Renée Zellweger. Carrey and the woman who became an Oscar-winner formed a friendship on the set of 1999's Me, Myself & Irene and began dating when filming ended. "Aside from giving personal details, because I think that what we are is too special to share with strangers and the world ... I will say that we had the most wonderful, old-fashioned, tremendously something-you-dream-about-happening-and-never-happens-anymore type of courtship," Carrey told CNN in 2000. Adding that they were "having a great time" together, he praised the lady in his life, saying, "I think she's absolutely a gem of a human being."
While they made red carpet appearances together at the premieres of his film Man on the Moon in 1999 (above) and her movie Nurse Betty, "the grinning twosome [also] appeared at several events promoting Carrey's star turn in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," ABC News reported in 2006. However, according to InStyle, the couple "peaked" at the 2000 Golden Globes.
They also sparked rumors that they were engaged after Carrey "purchase[d] ... a $200,000 diamond 'friendship ring' for his sweetie" (per ABC News). That's a pretty expensive trinket for something that apparently wasn't an engagement ring. Do you think Zellweger gave it back when they broke it off that same year? Hmm.
Jim Carrey reunited with Laurie Holden for the red carpet
Jim Carrey was likely still in a relationship with Renée Zellweger while filming 2001's The Majestic alongside Laurie Holden, who was making her big-screen debut in the film. The fact that Carrey wasn't single at the time means that Holden didn't end up as another one of the actor's co-star-turned-girlfriend, however, the pair did appear together at their movie's premiere (above) and looked happy to do so.
Over a decade later, the two teamed up again when she was cast as the female lead in Dumb And Dumber To. "Twenty years after their original adventure, Lloyd (Jim Carrey) and Harry (Jeff Daniels) reunited onscreen at Regency Theater in Los Angeles for the world premiere of" the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter who noted that they "were joined by [their] co-stars," including Laurie Holden. Sadly, though, it seems as if she may not have gotten to ride in the famous Mutt Cutts van. However, she did get a chance to meet up with Carrey again at the event's after-party where the two appeared to take a little time to catch up. We can't wait to see them back together again for Dumb and Dumbest (we have to assume that's what an additional film would be called) or maybe an unexpected (and long-awaited?) prequel or sequel to The Majestic.
Tea Leoni replaced Cameron Diaz (in a movie, not as Jim Carrey's friend)
Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni posed together — and shared a quick, friendly kiss — on the red carpet at the premiere of their crime-fueled comedy Fun With Dick and Jane in 2005. While the duo was entertaining onscreen as a rich couple who engage in illegal acts in order to sustain their lavish lifestyle, the actors seemed to get along just as well offscreen (although, with fewer felonies involved). And yet, they may never have worked together at all if Cameron Diaz had filled Leoni's role as she was originally meant to before being replaced.
But things worked out in the end as Carrey and Leoni were "like an old comedy couple from the '30s or '40s, they just work off each other," according to the movie's director, Dean Parisot. Carrey also talked about the chemistry he experienced with the actress, saying, "When it works, it works, you know. ... We immediately liked each other and it was easy." Leoni confirmed that, adding, "Well, we had fun."
Despite the good times, Carrey and Leoni haven't worked together since, possibly because their film didn't receive the best reviews. "Carrey's shtick gets laughs, Tea Leoni (as Jane) continues to be the most lovely and underrated comic heroine in movies," according to The Buffalo News. However, overall, the movie apparently "disappoints — not horribly but more than enough." Ouch.
Jenny McCarthy hit up plenty of A-list events with Jim Carrey
You might think that following his failed relationships with Lauren Holly and Renée Zellweger, Jim Carrey might refuse to get involved with another famous woman, however, that's not the case at all. In 2005, Carrey started dating Playboy model, Scream 3 actress, The Masked Singer judge, and former television host (you may remember her from MTV's Singled Out and later The View) Jenny McCarthy. The couple was together for five years and during that time, they showed up on the red carpet of plenty of A-list industry events and premieres for movies like 2008's Yes Man, 2009's A Christmas Carol, and The Hangover that same year.
Carrey and McCarthy split in 2010, which the actor addressed on Twitter, writing, "Jenny and I have just ended our 5yr relationship. I'm grateful 4 the many blessings we've shared and I wish her the very best! S'okay!" As for McCarthy, she released a statement, according to Us Weekly, saying, "I'm so grateful for the years Jim and I shared together. I will ... always keep Jim as a leading man in my heart."
McCarthy went on to marry actor and former New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg in 2014, even starring in their own A&E docuseries Donnie Loves Jenny, while Carrey went on to show up on red carpets with a range of different women.
Jim Carrey was 'bizarre' on the red carpet with Taylor Hill
In 2017, Jim Carrey popped onto the red carpet with Victoria's Secret model Taylor Hill for the Harper's Bazaar ICONS party at The Plaza Hotel. While it's not clear why the pair posed together, it didn't appear as if they were announcing a new romance. Instead, Carrey got... weird. While chatting with E! News' Catt Sadler, Carrey gave what Us Weekly described as a "bizarre, rambling interview."
"There's no meaning to any of this," the actor told Sadler after "circling around" the host. "So I wanted to find the most meaningless thing that I could come to and join and here I am. You got to admit, it's completely meaningless." Um, okay. Trying to salvage their brief and awkward interaction, Sadler asked about the event and celebrating icons. "Celebrating icons? Boy, that's just the absolute lowest aiming possibility that we could come up with," Carrey said. "I don't believe that you exist but there is a wonderful fragrance in the air." He then launched into a James Brown impression because why not just make things as random as possible?
While others might have understandably abandoned the cringe-worthy task at hand, Sadler bravery attempted to get Carrey to talk about his outfit, which went just about as well as you can imagine. "I didn't get dressed up," he said. "There is no me. There's just things happening. ... It's not our world ... we don't matter." Repeat: Um, okay.
Judy Greer, Catherine Keener, and Jim Carrey were a red carpet trio
Jim Carrey's next red carpet date wasn't as weird as his 2017 appearance with Taylor Hill, but it was just as noteworthy. For one thing, the actor posed with two women instead of just one. However, this time around neither was his romantic partner. Instead, in 2018, he walked the red carpet with actresses Judy Greer and Catherine Keener at the Los Angeles premiere of Showtime's Kidding, which the trio star in together. Carrey, in a bright, yellow jacket and robot shirt, smiled widely at the cameras, while the ladies opted for slightly more serious expressions (although we're sure they were thrilled to be there).
The series' performers may all be friendly nowadays, however, Greer admitted to Newsweek that before being on the show with Carrey, she was "super nervous to work with him and meet him." Although she didn't reveal if he is indeed intimidating when you're first introduced to him, the woman who plays Carrey's estranged wife onscreen did say, "I really fell for [his character, children's television personality and Mr. Rogers-like man] Jeff Pickles, just the idea of people being nice to other people and treating other people with respect." Admirable qualities, indeed.
As for the Kidding red carpet, Carrey didn't pose with actress Ginger Gonzaga who also appears on the show and was at the premiere, but that can't be said for future events after (yes, you guessed it) the two co-stars started dating.
Another red carpet, another co-star romance for Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey may not have found romance with his Kidding co-stars Judy Greer and Catherine Keener, but that doesn't mean that he didn't find a connection with anyone on set. In fact, the actor ended up dating another woman from the dark comedy series, Ginger Gonzaga, who fans will recognize as Vivian, the on-screen love interest of Carrey's character, Jeff Pickles.
While it's unclear exactly when Carrey and Gonzaga started dating, People notes that they "made their red carpet debut together at the Showtime Golden Globe Nominees Celebration" on January 5, 2019, an event that the actress commemorated on Instagram when she posted a picture of the pair with the caption: "Most partial to this talented nominee" (we're assuming she meant Carrey and not herself since he was the one with the nomination). They also showed up at the InStyle and Warner Bros.' party that same month and walked the GG red carpet together (above). At the latter event, which they attended thanks to the fact that their show was nominated for Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy, Carrey took the opportunity to tell Entertainment Tonight's Nancy O'Dell, "I'm lucky. I feel very lucky." He continued, "[Gonzaga]'s not only beautiful, she's wickedly talented and amazing and smart."
Although it sounded like the two were in a good place during awards season, they ended their relationship in October of that same year.
Jim Carrey's daughter hit up a pair of events with her famous dad
The final lady on this list might be the most special person in Jim Carrey's life and always makes a delightful red carpet date. Back in 1995, the actor first brought his daughter, Jane Carrey, with him to a prestigious industry event. Just a kid at the time and dressed in a sweet floral dress, the younger Carrey smiled for the cameras (and flashed a thumbs up) when her dad put his handprints and footprints in cement at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood (above left). She also showed up for the premiere of Horton Hears a Who! at the Mann Village Theater in 2008 (above right), but by that time, Jane had grown up quite a bit.
If you think that Jane looks familiar in the more recent photo above, that's probably because she popped up on American Idol in 2012. Striking out on her own, Jane survived the initial audition for the reality TV competition, "but after delivering a shaky performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Looking Out My Back Door,' it was the end of the road for the waitress and mom," according to Us Weekly. While Jane hasn't established the kind of career in show business that will see her invited to a red carpet event on her own (yet), we're sure we haven't seen the last time she'll get an invite to one from her superstar dad.