Jim Carrey is most known for his rubber-faced comedy and ability to distort reality with his emotions. Before becoming Hollywood’s most sought-after comedian, Jim Carrey was a penniless young man living out of a van, who relied on humor as his only escape from a harsh reality.

Born on January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, James Eugene Carrey lacked the luxury of expansive dreams. His father, Percy, was a gifted saxophonist who gave up his musical career to support the family as an accountant. When Percy lost his job, the Carreys went from enjoying middle-class comforts to battling for survival. They were formerly destitute, living in a Volkswagen van and working as janitors in a factory to supplement their income.

However, Jim had a weapon against despair: comedy.

By the age of ten, he started composing jokes. By 15, he was doing stand-up in Toronto, and by 17, he had dropped out of high school to pursue his passion full-time. He flopped on stage more than he could count, yet he refused to give up. His skill was evident, and in the early 1980s, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he performed at The Comedy Store and caught the attention of none other than Rodney Dangerfield, who signed him as an opening act.

Then came In Living Color (1990), a sketch comedy series that catapulted Carrey to stardom. His wild, unrestrained performances as Fire Marshall Bill and Vera De Milo made him difficult to ignore. Hollywood took notice, and in 1994, Jim Carrey had the most explosive year of any performer in history. Within a year, he had starred in three major hits: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. He quickly became a household name.

Carrey went on to dominate the comedy scene, earning $20 million for each film—an unprecedented sum at the time. But, beneath the hilarity, he faced despair and personal issues. He resorted to philosophy, art, and even spiritual research to find significance outside of fame. In the late 1990s and 2000s, he demonstrated his versatility with The Truman Show (1998) and Man on the Moon (1999), which earned him critical praise and a Golden Globe.

Despite his fame, Carrey has frequently avoided the spotlight, preferring passion projects over big rewards. He’s an artist, a sophisticated thinker, and a man who recognizes that laughing is more than simply entertainment; it’s survival.