Jim Carrey discusses one of his “personal heroes”
Jim Carrey, America’s goofiest comedy actor, enjoyed a seismic lift to superstardom as the pliable face behind such iconic characters of the 1990s as Ace Ventura, Stanley Ipkis, the Joker, Lloyd Christmas and Ernie ‘Chip’ Douglas, the cable guy. As the American answer to the UK’s Rowan Atkinson, Carrey made his millions through a jaw-dropping ability for hyperactive humour and pinpoint impressions.
Carrey’s slapstick sense of humour geared him up for a career in comedy from childhood. Although he was well aware of his abilities, it would take a hard graft over the 1980s before the real rewards were reaped. Following his comedic luminaries such as Steve Martin, Carrey first attempted to break out on Saturday Night Live but sadly failed his audition in the 1980s.
Undeterred, Carrey went on to become one of the 1990s’ most prominent movie stars after taking the lead role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Towards the end of the 1990s, Carrey broadened his cinematic scope, taking on more serious, dramatic roles in movies like Man on the Moon, The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Such titles balanced Carrey’s filmography, proving a skill set far beyond physical comedy. It would appear the more serious side of Carrey’s professional canon was inspired by one of the most severe and unsmiling in the game, Clint Eastwood.
In 1996, the American Film Institute honoured Clint Eastwood with the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award. Carrey, chosen to host the evening, revealed his lifelong admiration for the squinting gunslinger during a hilarious and touching speech.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” Carrey announced. “I’m here tonight, as all of us are, to pay tribute to an American icon. An actor, a filmmaker and truly one of my personal heroes, Mr. Clint Eastwood.”
After a pause for applause, during which Eastwood stifled a smile, Carrey continued, adding a little humour to proceedings. “I’m also here because the AFI is paying me $20 million and three dollars, making me the highest-paid megalomaniacal boy king in all of Babylon,” he added.
After conjuring a rare giggle from Eastwood, Carrey addressed the awardee directly. “Don’t get me wrong, Clint, I wanted to be here, but my quote is my quote. If I lower it for you, I have to do it for everybody.”
“Not many people know this, but Clint was one of my first supporters in the business,” Carrey continued. “At the time, I was a struggling actor, and I was cast to play the part of a crazed, drug fiend rockstar named Johnny Squares in the Dirty Harry film The Dead Pool.”
After recalling his hilarious improvised takes for the 1988 Dirty Harry movie, Carrey revealed his theory as to why Eastwood was nicknamed ‘The Man With No Name’ after A Fistful of Dollars.
“Every guy in this audience, at one time or another, has lived vicariously through Clint Eastwood and his mythological characters,” Carrey pointed out. “He’s our equaliser. He’s the one who could settle the score for us. The man that every man would love to be. When a bully was pursuing you and pushing you around in the schoolyard, you’d think to yourself, ‘Well, there’s just no justice.’
“Then you’d see a Clint Eastwood movie, and you’d realise that that bully grows up to become the guy who gets his butt kicked by The Man With No Name. It’s our salvation. I don’t know if they meant this: it’s just really a theory of mine, but I think the reason why he had no name is so that we could fill in our own.”
Watch Jim Carrey’s full speech at the AFI Awards ceremony below.
Never Miss A Tale
The Far Out Clint Eastwood Newsletter
All the latest stories about Clint Eastwood from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.