Why Jim Carrey Is the Tom Hanks of the Golden Globes
Jim Carrey was one of the biggest comedy stars of the 1990s. And along with a few other actors, he turned out to be one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. However, the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective actor has a surprising connection with another massive A-list movie stars: Tom Hanks. Here’s why Carrey is essentially the Hanks of the Golden Globe Awards.
Jim Carrey has never been nominated for an Oscar
Carrey rose to fame over the course of a single year. After years as a standout star of Fox’s sketch comedy series In Living Color, Carrey landed his first big hit movie in 1994. In fact, he headlined three box office hits and was well on his way to earning a then-record $20 million paycheck for 1996’s The Cable Guy. Soon thereafter, the comedy star became to stretch his acting muscles, increasingly turning his attention to more dramatic roles.
In 1998 and 1999, Carrey starred in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. Both films applied his comedic timing in clever ways and illustrated just how much range he could bring to the screen. Subsequently, movies such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Number 23, and I Love You Phillip Morris saw him step away from his usual comedic persona. But the Academy Awards consistently — and famously — refused to nominate Carrey.
Like Tom Hanks, the actor won back-to-back awards
Carrey might have never gotten the chance to land an Oscar nod. But the actor has done considerably better at the Golden Globes. In fact, many of his most acclaimed performances — whether comedic or not — received nominations over the years. These include The Mask, Liar Liar, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and TV’s Kidding. However, what makes Carrey akin to Hanks is his two Golden Globe wins.
Much like Hanks scored back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, Carrey triumphed at the Golden Globes. In 1999, he won the Best Actor — Motion Picture Drama for his work in The Truman Show. And then in 2000, Carrey walked away with the Best Actor — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy trophy for Man on the Moon. Even if the actor hasn’t gotten the respect he deserves at the Oscars, at least the Golden Globes recognized his work.
Could Jim Carrey still become an Oscar nominee?
The days of Carrey seemingly chasing an Academy Award appear to be over. After all, the actor looks to be more concerned with doing things he enjoys — whether that’s hamming it up as the over-the-top villain of Sonic the Hedgehog and playing Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live — rather than working toward any superficial accolades.
However, fate has a way of giving people what they want when they’re least expecting it. So could Carrey still get the chance to become an Oscar-nominated actor? Sure, if the right script came around, he might be able to slip into the awards buzz. But there’s so much luck and politics involved that Carrey might find it an uphill battle either way.
