The Grinch has become a beloved character synonymous with the holiday season.
And while the 2000 adaptation is a certified classic, the cast has been marred by various issues over the years.
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The cast of How the Grinch Stole Christmas has endured its fair share of tragedies and accusations over the years (Photo) Credit: AP: Associated Press
The Grinch character dates back to 1957 and has appeared in various cartoon adaptations since then.
However, Jim Carrey is the only actor who revived the iconic character of Dr. Seuss in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
And while the film became an instant hit, several stars faced difficulties since its release.
Jim Carrey
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Jim Carrey was the first film actor to receive a $20 million check for his role as the Grinch (Photo)Credit: Alamy
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Jim Carrey has faced a lawsuit from the family of his late girlfriend Cathrione White following her suicide in 2015 (Photo)Credit: Corbis
Playing the lead character, Carrey was one of the top choices for the wife of the late Dr. Suess for that role.
With years of comedy experience, he easily embodied the dramatic loner who eventually discovers the true meaning of Christmas.
However, Carrey’s personal life was in stark contrast to the film’s funny and heartwarming story.
In 2015, the actor’s girlfriend Cathriona White (30) took her own life, which led to a lot of accusations against Carrey.
The Irish makeup artist left a series of notes in which she claims the actor, who was 25 years her senior, introduced her to a life of sex and drugs when they first met in 2012.
“You did good things for me, but being with you broke me as a person, Jim,” White wrote in a message left on her iPad.
“I was promised Jekyll, and instead I got Hyde.
I’m obsessed with the Grinch – I watch it three times a day, and my movie-inspired tree leaves visitors speechless
“Because I love you, I would have put up with Hyde for a year and done anything he wanted to be with Jekyll for five of those, but you threw me away when you absorbed everything of worth that was left of me.”
She also accused Carrey, who became the first film actor to earn $20 million for playing the Grinch, of “giving” her herpes.
The actor attended her funeral in County Tipperary, but soon after there was a rift between him and the White family.
Her mother and estranged husband even tried to sue Carrey for causing emotional pain to White that led to her suicide.
Although the case was eventually dismissed, the Canadian star has since retreated from the limelight.
History of the Grinch
The Grinch is a character created by Dr. Seuss and first appeared in the 1957 children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The story features the Grinch, a lonely, grumpy creature who lives in a cave atop Mount Crumpit.
Not liking the Christmas cheer of the nearby Whos in Whoville, the Grinch decides to “steal” Christmas by taking their decorations, gifts and feasts.
He eventually learns the true meaning of Christmas when the Whos celebrate despite their losses, causing his heart to grow three sizes.
A live-action adaptation starring Jim Carrey was released on November 17, 2000 and is a Christmas classic today.
He also countersued the family, saying he had already paid White an undisclosed amount to settle her STD claims.
In a statement after Cathrione’s death, the actor described her as “a truly kind and gentle Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil”.
Speaking about the White family’s lawsuit, his publicist said: “All I can say is that the case has been dismissed and I have no further comment.”
Carrey recently appeared in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, saying he “needs the money,” but has otherwise stayed out of the public eye.
Taylor Momsen
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Taylor Momsen was just seven years old when she landed the breakout role of Cindy-Lou Who (Photo)Credit: Alamy
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Taylor Momsen has since retired from acting to pursue a career in the music industry as the front woman of the punk rock band The Pretty Reckless (Photo)Credit: Getty
The actress was only seven years old when she took on the role of Cindy Lou Who, a girl who befriends the Grinch.
Now 31, she described struggling through a “completely dark hole of depression and substance abuse” as she transitioned from acting to fronting punk rock band The Pretty Reckless.
While Momsen went on to star in other iconic roles such as the president’s daughter on Spy Kids and series regular Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl, she eventually moved permanently into music.
Swapping her sparkling clean child star image for bleached hair, thick eyeliner and ripped tights, she spoke to Metro.co.uk about her experience of losing two close friends in the music industry.
“It broke me in a way that I can’t explain and that I wasn’t prepared for as a person,” she recalled, referring to Soundgarden singer and guitarist Chris Cornell, who died by suicide in 2017 at the age of 52.
“Mentally I was not in a good place to be in public, I canceled the tour and went home.
“I had to try to process what had happened and somehow sort out my dreams.”
The following year, producer Kato Khandwala was killed in a motorcycle accident, leaving Momsen at a loss again.
“It was the nail in the coffin for me,” Taylor said, explaining that they were “so incredibly close.”
“He was much more than a producer, he was the fifth member of the band and my best friend in the world.”
Joshua Ryan Evans
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Teenage actor Joshua Ryan Evans shocked audiences by playing the eight-year-old Grinch (photo)Credit: Alamy
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Josh Ryan Evans died just two years after the film’s release due to complications during surgery (photo)Credit: Getty
While Evans’ role as the young Grinch became a fan favorite, his career was cut short by his sudden death just two years after the film’s release.
Evans had a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, which made him look younger than his years.
This condition allowed him to delight audiences by playing the role of the eight-year-old Grinch when he was already a teenager.
Joshua died during a medical procedure at a San Diego hospital in July 2002 at the age of 20, CBS reports.
The young actor reportedly underwent surgery to correct a congenital heart defect.
Jeffrey Tambor
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Jeffrey Tambor (left) starred as Mayor Augustus of Whoville in the beloved 2000 Christmas classic (Photo) Credit: Alamy
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Jeffrey Tambor has been let go from Amazon’s hit series Transparent after allegations of sexual misconduct (Photo)Credit: Getty
The 80-year-old actor has a long and extensive list of credits, including Mayor Augustus of Whoville.
However, since starring in the festive film, Tambor has faced allegations of sexual misconduct that resulted in his firing from Amazon’s Transparent in 2018.
The Emmy-winning actor has denied the allegations, even claiming they were part of a “coup” to remove him from the hit series.
He went on to say that the show’s creators were looking for a way to write him out “because I was a cisgender man playing (trans character) Maura Pfefferman.”
While the #MeToo statement released by Tambor’s assistant never directly named the actor, he disputed the claims made.
He called the woman a “disgruntled former assistant”, adding that he was “disgusted and disturbed” by her “baseless” accusations.
Christine Baranski
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Christine Baranski played the Grinch’s childhood crush Martha May Whovier (Photo) Credit: Alamy
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Christine Baranski lost her husband Matthew Cowles to heart failure 10 years ago (Photo Credit: Getty)
Before her role in Mamma Mia! and The Big Bang Theory, Baranski was known for playing Martha May Whovier, the Grinch’s childhood crush.
The now 72-year-old actress has had a hugely successful career, but has admitted that she has struggled in her personal life since losing husband Matthew Cowles 10 years ago.
Cowles, who died of heart failure at the age of 69, had daughters Isabel (40) and Lily (37) with the actress.
In 2017, in an interview with Parada, Baranski talked about her journey through grief.
“There is no shortcut to grief. A few months after Matthew passed away, I had to step in front of the camera again, but it helped to be with my community of people,” she said.
“Everybody knew and loved me, so it was good to be back at work. You’re pretty numb for the first month or two though.
“The death of a loved one is not only deeply sad, but also very disorienting.”
She then described how adjusting to the new normal was a significant part of her struggle.
“When you’re married for 30 years and you’re sitting across from that person every morning drinking coffee, it’s so weird,” Baranski said.
“Someone’s there and then suddenly they’re not there to talk to.”
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education