Jim Carrey Reveals How the Grinch Suit Almost Made Him Quit

Jim Carrey has admitted that the green suit, full of itchy yak hair and a 10‑inch‑long finger prosthetic, almost forced him to abandon his role as the Grinch.

The Grinch Suit and Makeup

Carrey explained that the costume was “made of unnervingly itchy yak hair that drove me insane all day long.” He added, “I had 10‑inch‑long fingers, so I couldn’t scratch myself or touch my face or do anything. I had teeth that I had to find a way to speak around, and I had full contact lenses that covered the entire eyeball, and I could only see a tiny tunnel in front of me.”

The first day in makeup took eight hours, he said, and the process was later reduced to about three hours.

The Crisis and Rescue

During the intense makeup session, Carrey experienced panic attacks and approached director Ron Howard (71) and producer Brian Grazer. He told them, “I wouldn’t be able to do the movie and I was quitting.”

Howard recognized Carrey’s sincerity and noted that the actor was “ready to give his $20 million salary back.” To keep him on board, the team introduced him to U.S. Navy SEAL commander Richard Marcinko, who taught endurance tactics such as “punch myself in the leg as hard as I can” and “have a friend that I trust and punch him in the arm.”

Marcinko also encouraged Carrey to “smoke cigarettes as much as possible,” which led to photos of Carrey as the Grinch sitting in a director’s chair with a long cigarette holder—he explained that the holder was necessary because the yak hair would catch fire if it got too close.

Coping Mechanisms

Carrey found solace in music. He said, “What really helped me through the makeup process, which they eventually pulled down to about three hours, was the Bee Gees.” He added, “I listened through the makeup process to the entire Bee Gees catalogue. Their music is so joyful. I’ve never met Barry Gibb, but I want to thank him.”

The film also starred Taylor Momsen.

Key Takeaways

• Jim Carrey’s Grinch suit was made of itchy yak hair and required a 10‑inch‑long finger prosthetic.
• The first day of makeup lasted eight hours, later reduced to about three hours.
• A conversation with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, and endurance training from Richard Marcinko, kept Carrey on the project.

Jim Carrey’s candid look at the grueling behind‑the‑scenes reality of playing the Grinch offers a rare glimpse into the challenges actors face when bringing iconic characters to life.