Jim Carrey Before He Was Famous (Video, Early Stand-Up Impersonation Performances As A Highschool Senior)

A very young Jim Carrey, before he was famous and known the world over.

Can you imagine saying “Jim Carrey who?” Before Jim Carrey was famous, that is exactly what you would have said.

In retrospect it’s hard to even fathom a person of Jim Carrey’s fame NOT being famous… and not being such a beloved and recognizable personality (real name: “James Eugene Carrey”). As such, it is extremely interesting to look at the actor from a time when he was an unknown… a stand-up comedian who’d travel the nation and between several states and his native Canada (I only JUST FOUND OUT that Jim Carrey was a Canadian…. *mind blown*) doing shows.

And just like his work now that is absolute comedic perfection, Jim Carrey in the early days was a nose-to-the-grindstone hard worker who’d put in the hours, the time, and the money to do as many shows as he could (even sleeping in the places he’d perform). He’d practice for hours and hours in front of a mirror in order to make sure he got his funny faces down pat. Of course, all of that hard work would pay off… but it wouldn’t pay off until another nearly twenty years following these old videos of Jim Carey from 1979 and 1980, where he performs funny impersonations of then-President Jimmy Carter and many others.

What’s amazing is to hear Jim Carrey in his rare, more serious moments during the interview for this biography, where Jim Carrey talks about how he’d drive for hundreds of miles to do shows… and sometimes free shows. Where they didn’t even give him gas money. Imagine that. There was once a day when Jim Carrey needed gas money. *mind wobbles* I also must say that Jim Carrey looks freakin’ WEIRD in these interviews… granted he’s a 16/17/18 year-old kid… but still. He has a long neck. :P What’s amazing too is that the way he acts now and his comedic routines were all laid down back in these early years, despite his age you can clearly see the modern Jim Carrey in his stage routine.

The most interesting though is Jim Carrey’s evident burning passion to BE SOMEONE… he wanted to be someone so famous that he couldn’t walk the street without being recognized. And the look in his eyes, a very sad look, says it all.

Self-fulfilled prophecy? “Faith without works is dead.” This guy earned it. Great job Jim Carrey, you achieved your dream! Enjoy this video. :)