Jim Carrey is a bit of a contradiction. We know him as the guy with the rubber face, the high-energy titan of the 90s who could make anyone laugh just by contorting his eyebrows. But when you look at who Jim Carrey dated, a much different, more vulnerable picture starts to emerge. It’s not just a list of Hollywood starlets. It is a series of intense, sometimes tragic, and deeply transformative connections that show the man behind the mask.
He’s been married twice. He’s been engaged three times. And he’s famously called one of his exes the "last great love" of his life, even decades after they split.
The Early Years: Melissa Womer and Lauren Holly
Long before the $20 million paychecks, Jim was a struggling stand-up at The Comedy Store. That’s where he met Melissa Womer. She was a waitress there, and they got married in 1987. This was the era of In Living Color. They had a daughter together, Jane Erin Carrey, who you might remember seeing on American Idol years ago. But as Jim’s fame skyrocketed, the marriage buckled. They divorced in 1995.
Then came the Dumb and Dumber era. Enter Lauren Holly.
Their chemistry on screen was undeniable, and they married in 1996. It was a whirlwind. Seriously, it lasted less than a year. Holly later mentioned that the intense media scrutiny—paparazzi literally jumping over their fences—made a normal life impossible. When people ask about the Jim Carrey dating history, this is usually the blink-and-you-missed-it chapter.
That "Last Great Love": Renée Zellweger
If you want to talk about the one that got away, you have to talk about Renée Zellweger. They met on the set of Me, Myself & Irene in 1999.
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Honestly, Jim rarely opens up about his private life in a traditional way, but in his 2020 semi-autobiographical book Memoirs and Misinformation, he dropped a bombshell. He called Zellweger the "last great love" of his life.
They were engaged for a bit in 2000. It felt like the ultimate Hollywood power couple. She was the indie darling; he was the king of comedy. But by the end of that year, it was over. Why? Rumors flew about everything from Jim’s "moodiness" to Renée wanting to settle down faster than he was ready for. Whatever the reason, it clearly left a mark on him that hasn't faded.
The Jenny McCarthy Era
For a huge chunk of the mid-2000s, Jim and Jenny McCarthy were inseparable. They started dating in 2005 and stayed together for five years.
This wasn't just a red-carpet romance. They were partners in activism. They became the public faces of the anti-vax movement at the time, frequently appearing together to discuss McCarthy’s son and his autism diagnosis.
They never married. McCarthy famously told Ellen DeGeneres they didn't need a "piece of paper." When they split in 2010, they both took to Twitter (now X) to announce it with a surprising amount of grace. Jim wrote that he was grateful for the years they shared.
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The Tragedy of Cathriona White
This is the part of the story that gets heavy. In 2012, Jim met Cathriona White, a makeup artist from Ireland.
Their relationship was on-and-off for several years. It was complicated. Tragically, in September 2015, Cathriona died by suicide shortly after they had broken up again.
The aftermath was a nightmare of legal battles. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jim, alleging he had provided her with the prescription drugs she used and claiming he had infected her with STDs. Jim fought back hard, filing a countersuit and claiming the lawsuit was an attempt at extortion. Eventually, in 2018, the lawsuits were dismissed.
It was a dark period that seemed to change Jim. He retreated from the spotlight, focused on his painting, and began talking more about "spiritual awakening" and the "illusion of the self."
Who Is Jim Carrey Dating Now?
After the tragedy with Cathriona, Jim was single for a long time. Then, in early 2019, he showed up at the Golden Globes with his Kidding co-star Ginger Gonzaga.
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They looked happy. Jim called her "incredible" and "wicked talented." But by October of that same year, they had called it quits.
Since then? It’s been quiet. Very quiet.
Jim has been vocal about his "isolated life." In interviews, he’s mentioned that he spends a lot of time alone, painting and sculpting, and that he actually enjoys it. He hasn't given up on dating entirely, but he’s not out there chasing it like he used to.
What We Can Learn from Jim’s Journey
Looking at the list of people Jim Carrey dated, you see a man who dives in deep. He doesn't do "casual" very well. His relationships are often tied to his work—meeting on sets, sharing creative energy.
If you’re looking for a takeaway from his romantic history, it’s probably this:
- Creative passion is a double-edged sword. It brings people together, but it can be exhausting to live with.
- Privacy is a luxury. Many of Jim's breakups were fueled by the "goldfish bowl" effect of being a mega-star.
- Healing takes time. After the 2015 tragedy, Jim's shift toward solitude suggests he's found more peace in his own company than in a crowded room.
If you're curious about Jim's current state of mind, your best bet isn't the tabloids. It's his art. His paintings and his book Memoirs and Misinformation offer a far more honest look at his heart than any "insider source" ever could. He seems to be in a phase where he’s more interested in the "Big Picture" than the next big date.
Next steps: To see the more introspective side of Jim, look up his 2017 documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond. It explains a lot about why he moved away from the traditional Hollywood lifestyle and his subsequent approach to relationships.