Actors get paid based on their popularity, or said differently, you get paid shit if you are not known by millions. You can be the worst actor and get paid millions, while the best actor of the century gets paid minimum wage because noone knows about him.
It’s a little more complicated than that. Carrey was negotiating for Dumb and Dumber when Ace Ventura hit the box office. By the time the negotiations ended, there wasn’t much money left for other actors. But that one movie was really all that he was known for at the time. So it was still a huge risk for a potential flash in the pan.
Daniels wanted to expand his career into comedy, but the producers didn’t want him since he wasn’t known for comedy. He had done a lot of movies by that point though and was well known, just not for comedy. So they threw him a lowball number to get rid of him. He wasn’t suppose to take it.
It was all just really wild timing on Carrey’s part and priorities not focused on money on Daniels’ part.
And I hope Daniels made bank off the sequel
Well, that settles it then - Jeff Daniels was the dumber one! 😂
He was paid in exposure, pride, and accomplishment.
And it worked out for him.
Yep. Taking the piss aside, it was a smart move to co-star with someone so famous.
