Jim Carrey Impressions vs the Actual Person | Side-by-Side

Jim Carrey Impressions vs the Actual Person Side by Side

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at Jim Carrey’s most iconic impersonations of famous people, and how spot-on they really are.

Jerry Seinfeld

It’s always delightful to watch one legend impersonate another. When Jim Carrey imitated Jerry Seinfeld for an episode of “In Living Color”, he went all out. In his classic over-the-top style, “The Mask” actor perfectly highlighted the “Seinfeld” co-creator’s sing-song cadence. He also captured Jerry’s animated expressions, reminding us of his classic bemused demeanor. From the wobbly neck to the toothy grin, Carrey knows exactly how to make his impression recognizable. The master stroke is how he mimics his subject’s signature setup, asking, ‘what’s the deal?’ However, at no point does Jim cross over to disrespectful territory, and that’s precisely why we love this act.

Sylvester Stallone

Attempting a Sly impression is like a rite of passage for comedians. The Oscar-nominated actor, who memorably played Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, has distinct traits that lend themselves wonderfully to impressionists. In the hands of master impressionist Jim Carrey, they transform into comedy gold. Carrey imitates his larger-than-life presence and effortless swagger with ease, mixing it with exaggerated facial expressions for a slapstick effect. His Rocky impression in one of his “In Living Color” sketches, where the character is fighting Grace Jones, is even funnier. Obviously, it wouldn’t be a Stallone impression without a nod to his drawl, and Carrey, unsurprisingly, nails that part too.

Lance Armstrong

Carrey’s impression of the former road racing cyclist was inspired by his likeness to the disgraced athlete after he shaved his hair off. So, during an appearance on “Late Show with David Letterman”, he spontaneously whipped out a hilarious Lance Armstrong impression. Just by pretending to be on a bike and copying Lance’s gestures, Carrey earns a roaring applause from the audience. The host can hardly match the comedian’s energy, who keeps extending his bit. Carrey even gets Letterman involved by claiming he’s ‘drafting,’ and throws in some toilet humor for good measure, bringing the house down.

Pee-wee Herman

Paul Reubens’ unforgettable character was parodied by Jim Carrey during an episode of “In Living Color”. In the sketch, which aired shortly after Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure in an adult movie theatre, Carrey did not hesitate to call the actor out. His impression, though caricaturish, is way too accurate – from Pee-wee’s voice to his signature laugh, and even the mannerisms. However, it is the satirical content that makes the audience go wild. The doll Carrey’s Herman attempts to advertise is a lookalike of Reubens’ mugshot, and its features are … inappropriate, to say the least. Social commentary aside, the impersonation was masterful and left us wanting more.

Henry Fonda

Did you know that Jim Carrey auditioned for “SNL” multiple times and was rejected each time? The show’s creator, Lorne Michaels, later admitted that he regrets not casting the legend. One of Carrey’s audition acts was an impression of Henry Fonda as Norman Thayer Jr. in “On Golden Pond”. His scene of choice was the one where Katharine Hepburn’s Ethel urges Norman to go strawberry picking. Equipped with a bucket hat, an endearing frown, and overly expressive eyebrows, he takes his impression to the extreme, even playing out Ethel’s lines as well, before switching to Norman again in a split second. Though his expressions are over the top, he flawlessly copies Fonda’s voice, managing to evoke the pathos of the original scene. What a genius!

Jerry Lewis

Impersonating the so-called ‘King of Comedy’ is no easy feat. For Jim Carrey, though, it seems like a cakewalk. He famously did a Jerry Lewis impression during an appearance on “Buffalo Bill”, leaving viewers in stitches. Lewis was known for his characteristic nasal voice and mastery of slapstick humor. Carrey, having the same specialties, was in his element for this impression. His Jerry Lewis voice is so spot-on, it almost sounds like it was dubbed over by “The Bellboy” actor himself! In a brilliant display of physical comedy, Carrey turns the set upside down like an agent of chaos. The only complaint we have is that his part was too short.

Joe Biden

Jim Carrey’s recurring impression of the 46th President of the United States on “SNL” has a fandom of its own. The SFX department does a fantastic job of transforming the comedian into a Biden lookalike every time, but that’s the least impressive part about this impression. Instead of resorting to cartoonish physical comedy at once, Jim starts with a subtle mimicry, recreating the former president’s mannerisms and quirks. However, he doesn’t end it before jumping into slapstick for a few rare moments. Parodying Biden’s meandering delivery, Carrey oscillates between avuncular charm and unhinged rage. Most strangely, his Biden seems to be fond of rhymes, but hey, we’re not complaining!

Clint Eastwood

The “Dirty Harry” megastar is an inimitable artist, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be impersonated. Then again, not everyone can mimic him, not like Jim Carrey can. He focuses on the eyebrows, recreating Eastwood’s intense smouldering gaze. Vocally, he emphasizes the actor’s breathy drawl and measured delivery, but ensures that his impression is both accurate and hilarious. “The Truman Show” actor has performed this impression many times over the years. He did it on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”, then took it to “Letterman”, and even included it in his own comedy special, “Unnatural Act”. The funniest one, however, was when he imitated the man to his face at his AFI Life Achievement Award tribute, making him laugh out loud. Clearly, it’s Eastwood-approved.

Matthew McConaughey

We’d recognize the “Interstellar” actor’s signature Southern drawl and deep, smoky voice in our sleep. That is, unless Jim Carrey was impersonating him, in which case, we’d probably mix them up. Carrey, being an extraordinary dramatic actor himself, has no difficulty convincingly mimicking McConaughey’s brooding expressions. However, the real knee-slapper is how he imitates his voice, delivering hilariously cryptic dialogues with mock-seriousness. From parodying the Oscar winner’s pensive Lincoln commercial to playing him in a 2015 “Celebrity Jeopardy” sketch on “SNL”, Carrey never fails to crack us up with this impression.

Jack Nicholson

No one loves Jim Carrey’s impression of “The Shining” actor more than the star himself. The comedian copies Nicholson’s trademark arched brows, wicked grin, and raspy tone, without breaking a sweat. He also zeroes in on details like his controlled pacing and wild eyes, especially when impersonating his Joker. Carrey’s posture during these bits, confident and unpredictable, is unmistakably Nicholson. He once imitated the multi-Oscar-winner while he was in the audience at Meryl Streep’s AFI Life Achievement Award tribute, and the older actor couldn’t stop laughing. That’s how you know Jim hit the nail on the head.

Who would you like Jim Carrey to impersonate next? Tell us in the comments!