Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey rocked the world in Farrelly Brother’s Dumb and Dumber.
Afterward, both Carrey and Daniels went on to bigger projects such as The Newsroom and The Cable Guy.
However, there is a rumor that one actor received a bigger paycheque in Dumb and Dumber.
Was it Jeff Daniels or Jim Carrey?
How Much did Jeff Daniels Get Paid for Dumb and Dumber
Jeff Daniel’s first appearance on Dumb and Dumber saw him earn about $50.000. This was much lower than what Jim Carrey made.
However, for the 2014 follow-up, Daniels made $150.000 per episode. Carrey, on the other hand, made up to $15 million from the show.
In an interview with Reuters, Daniels reckoned that he enjoyed the craft. “I love changing it up,” he said. “I love going from Newsroom to Dumb and Dumber. I like that range. I like doing what you’re not supposed to do with your career choices.”
In the paycheque battle, Jim Carrey is the clear winner. However, the fans feel that Jeff Daniels is the better actor, and should earn more.
While Jeff Daniels earned significantly lower amounts compared to his co-star Jim Carrey, you must admit that the show was the prize. Each moment and scene were absolutely magical!
Jeff Daniels Wasn’t First Choice for Harry
As hard as it is to imagine the show with any other actors, Jeff Daniels wasn’t a favorite to star as Harry.
When the production team was looking for actors to cast as Harry, they auditioned over 500 people and even passed on Jim Carrey himself.
Originally, Tom Cruise wanted to play Lloyd after his role in Risky Business but dropped out of consideration because he didn’t want to be known as a comedian. Afterward, John Travolta declined the role because he didn’t want to be known as a funny actor.
Then, the team approached Billy Crystal and Richard Pryor but they both refused.
With no other options left, they finally chose Jeff Daniels for his distinct look which was required to portray Lloyd’s “simpleton.”
What is interesting about this choice is that before Dumb and Dumber, Jeff Daniels had only done serious roles and was still known as a dramatic actor.
Jim Carrey’s Initial Offer was Lower than What He Got
Before Jim Carrey was cast as Lloyd, he had originally received an offer of $700,000 to play the role.
However, his agent wanted double that amount, and negotiations continued for over a month until they reached $650,000.
Because there were no other actors in line for the part (the movie’s production team refused to consider John Cusack because he was known as a dramatic actor), Jim Carrey’s first offer of $700,000 became the final deal.
