The co-star Jim Carrey fought tooth and nail to hire: “Whatever you’re hearing is bullshit”
When you’re as big a star as Jim Carrey, you can basically work with whoever you want. Across his lengthy and esteemed career, he has shared the screen with giants of the comedy world (Jack Black, Steve Carell, Will Ferrell), esteemed dramatic actors (Kate Winslet, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman), and has even amassed an enviable array of voice acting colleagues (Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba).
It hasn’t always been easy for the Canadian to get what he wants, however. He turned down the chance to be in an REM video because they wanted him to portray Andy Kaufman, a role that famously took its toll on Carrey’s mental health. Conversely, he had to really dig his heels in to get the studio to agree to his demands on the set of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Prior to the release of this animalistic comedy, Carrey was best known as a TV comedian and cast member of the show In Living Color. The role of Ace Ventura, a hapless sleuth charged with recovering a football team’s stolen mascot, is what made Carrey the household name he is today. It kickstarted a mad run of success that included The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and Batman Forever. He almost blew his chance at the big time, though, as he put a lot on the line to hire one actor to play his co-star.
The part of Lois Einhorn, a police lieutenant and Ventura’s main rival, is played by Sean Young. An 80s pin-up, Young had broken through by playing Rachael in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, which was followed up by roles in David Lynch’s Dune and Oliver Stone’s Wall Street. Her career took a downturn towards the end of the decade, coinciding with a nasty legal spat involving James Wood and allegations of harassment. That wasn’t enough to put Carrey off, though. He wanted her for the movie.
“Morgan Creek [the production company] wanted someone else, and Jim Carrey wanted me. And he fought for me. And I got the part,” Young told The Daily Beast. He’s the only leading man who ever did that for me. Jim came in and said, ‘No, no, no. Whatever you’re hearing is bullshit. She’s great.’” The part did eventually go to Young and it’s one of the most memorable of her entire career, although not always for the right reasons. Lt. Einhorn is eventually revealed to be Ray Finkle, whom Ventura embarrasses publicly. In more sensitive times, this treatment of a transgender woman isn’t always met with in the jovial way it was intended.
Unfortunately, Young’s career couldn’t overcome her previous scandals. When vying for the character of Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, she caused a stir when she showed up to an audition in a full homemade costume. In 2012, she was removed from an Oscars afterparty for allegedly not possessing a ticket and becoming violent. Ace Ventura might have offered her career a reprieve, but it was only fleeting.
Carrey was at a pivotal stage in his career when he made his demands for Young to join him. He could have blown a major opportunity by sticking his neck out for someone so controversial, but he clearly knew what he was doing and was able to stand his ground.
