If you grew up in the 90s, your sense of humor was basically forged by two Canadians. One was a human cartoon with a rubber face; the other was a master of high-concept characters who could make a "Schwing!" heard around the world. Mike Myers and Jim Carrey didn't just dominate the box office. They owned the entire cultural conversation.
But here’s the thing. Despite being the two biggest comedic forces of their era, they almost never shared the screen. People always ask: Were they rivals? Did they hate each other? Or was it just a case of two massive stars occupying the same space without ever actually colliding?
Honestly, the truth is way more interesting than a simple "feud."
The Near-Miss That Would Have Changed History
Most fans don't realize how close we came to a Mike Myers and Jim Carrey team-up. It nearly happened in 1997. When Myers was developing the first Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, he didn't originally plan to play Dr. Evil himself.
He actually reached out to Carrey.
Carrey was interested. He liked the script. But there was a massive roadblock: Liar Liar. Carrey was already committed to the schedule for the lawyer comedy, and the dates just didn't line up. Because Carrey passed, Myers decided to take on the villain role himself, creating one of the most iconic "hero vs. villain" dynamics in history—played by the same guy.
Imagine that for a second. Imagine Jim Carrey as Dr. Evil.
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It would have been a completely different movie. Carrey’s Dr. Evil would have likely been more manic, more physical, and probably less of the subtle Lorne Michaels parody that Myers eventually delivered. While it's one of the great "what ifs" of comedy, most critics agree that Myers playing both parts is what gave Austin Powers its unique, obsessive DNA.
Two Different Ways to Be Funny
To understand why they didn't cross paths more often, you have to look at how they worked. They were both Canadian exports who hit it big in the U.S., but their "funny" came from two different planets.
The Myers Method: The Character Architect
Mike Myers is a builder. He doesn't just "do" a bit; he constructs an entire world around a character. Think about Wayne Campbell or Austin Powers. These aren't just voices. They are sets of catchphrases, specific wardrobes, and deep lore.
Myers is known for being a bit of a perfectionist. Some call it "difficult" on set—the rumors of his intensity during the production of The Cat in the Hat or Wayne's World are legendary in Hollywood circles—but it comes from a place of protecting his vision. He wants every "Yeah, baby!" to land exactly right.
The Carrey Method: The Chaos Engine
Jim Carrey, especially in the 90s, was pure kinetic energy. While Myers was carefully scripting "Sprockets," Carrey was on In Living Color improvising physical gags that seemed to defy the laws of biology.
Carrey was the first actor to command a $20 million salary for a single film (The Cable Guy). He was a force of nature. If Myers was the architect, Carrey was the earthquake. You didn't cast Jim Carrey to fit into your movie; you built the movie around whatever Jim Carrey was going to do that day.
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The SNL Connection That Wasn't
There’s a weird bit of trivia that often gets lost: Jim Carrey actually auditioned for Saturday Night Live. Twice.
He was rejected both times.
Lorne Michaels has famously said he wasn't actually there for the auditions, but the fact remains that Carrey never made the cut. Meanwhile, Mike Myers became one of the most successful "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" in the show's history.
This created a weird divergence. Myers had the institutional backing of SNL and NBC. Carrey had to go the "underdog" route through In Living Color on the then-fledgling FOX network. By the time they both reached the top of the mountain in 1994—the year of Ace Ventura, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber for Carrey—they were already kings of their own separate hills.
Did They Actually Have Beef?
The internet loves a rivalry. For years, rumors swirled that there was tension between the two, mostly stemming from the fact that they were competing for the same audience.
However, there’s very little evidence of a real "Mike Myers and Jim Carrey" feud.
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In 2007, Myers received the MTV Generation Award. Who handed it to him? Jim Carrey. They did a bit on stage where Carrey pretended to be an over-the-top fan, and the vibe was genuinely respectful.
If there was any friction, it was likely the "ego-clash" variety that happens when two Alphas are in the same room. Both men have reputations for being deeply involved in their creative processes. Put them on the same set in 1995, and the trailer requirements alone would have bankrupted a studio.
The Legacy of the "Canadian Invasion"
We don't really see stars like this anymore. Today, comedy is often "ensemble-based" or relies on relatable, "regular guy" personas. Carrey and Myers were the last of the Titans.
They were transformative. They wore prosthetics. They changed their voices. They weren't trying to be "relatable"; they were trying to be legendary.
Why their era ended:
- The Shift to R-Rated Comedy: The mid-2000s saw the rise of Judd Apatow and "mumblecore" humor. The broad, theatrical style of the 90s started to feel "old-fashioned."
- Burnout: Both actors took significant breaks. Carrey moved toward more dramatic roles (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and eventually slowed down his output. Myers stepped back after the critical disaster of The Love Guru.
- The Budget Gap: Studios stopped spending $100 million on star-driven comedies. Now, that money goes to superheroes.
What You Can Learn from Their Careers
If you're looking at the careers of Mike Myers and Jim Carrey as a blueprint for success, there are a few real-world takeaways that actually matter.
- Protect your "IP" early: Myers owned his characters. He didn't just act; he wrote and produced. That’s why he’s still making Shrek money while other 90s stars are doing local car commercials.
- The Power of "No": Carrey saying no to Austin Powers was a massive risk, but it allowed him to make Liar Liar, which solidified him as a leading man who didn't need a mask or a gimmick to be funny.
- Adapt or Fade: Carrey’s transition into drama saved his legacy from being "just the guy who makes faces." Myers's reluctance to move away from character-based comedy for a long time made his eventual comeback harder.
If you want to revisit this golden age, skip the highlights on YouTube. Watch The Cable Guy and So I Married an Axe Murderer back-to-back. You’ll see two masters at the absolute height of their powers, working in completely different ways to achieve the same goal: making the world a lot weirder.
To dive deeper into 90s comedy history, look for the "Fly on the Wall" podcast episodes where SNL alums talk about the 1994-1995 season. It was the turning point for both actors and the industry at large.