Imagine yourself being in the middle of Alaska, deprived of all your glory from Hollywood, facing a predator that can kill you in a matter of seconds. That is what happened to the comedy genius Jim Carrey in 1997.
While on an expedition, the actor found himself in an unexpected standoff with a huge grizzly bear standing about 30 yards away from him and his unarmed guide. Being cornered by a giant predator, the actor had to demonstrate incredible self-control. Watching the massive creature draw closer and show no sign of leaving, he prepared himself for a tragic outcome.
Jim Carrey’s Wild Encounter With A Grizzly Bear
Jim Carrey is famous for sharing the screen with the animal kingdom, whether managing the penguins in ‘Mr. Popper’s Penguins’ or tracking down a stolen dolphin in ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.’ Yet despite his onscreen chemistry with animals, real life proved far less friendly when a terrifying encounter with a bear left him watching his life flash before his eyes.
During his expedition in Alaska, the actor almost became the victim of a fatal accident. As already mentioned, it involved a wild bear that was in close proximity to Carrey and his companions, who didn’t have a gun.
“It was 30 years away from me, just circling, out in the open,” Carrey said. “And we had no gun, because the guide believed bears are so smart that they sense aggressive energy. So we were just vocalizing, ‘Hi, bear! Hey, bear!’ I’m standing there in front of this grizzly, and he’s chewing grass. I felt completely free.”
Staying near the wild beast, the actor knew perfectly well that there was no way to protect himself in case of an attack, which could have happened at any moment. At the same time, he did not want to run since it would only provoke the animal to charge. Staying motionless in his place, Carrey treated the moment like his last.
The Actor Was Sure That He Would Not Survive
When the situation seemed out of his hands, Jim Carrey accepted the fact that there was a good chance he might die. Instead of panicking, he felt quite calm, stopped thinking of himself as an actor, and just felt like another guy.
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“I was thinking to myself, ‘Well, if you go now, what a way to go,’” Carrey said. “I wasn’t Jim Carrey that day. You know what I mean? I was no one important that day.” Since the expedition was being recorded by his friend, he even started imagining the headlines.
“…I was standing there thinking, ‘Ace Ventura mauled by a grizzly’, with footage on every show of me beating on the bear as he plays double Dutch with my entrails.” Fortunately, the bear did not attack anyone. Having observed the group for several minutes, he left peacefully.
While Carrey came out alive, the mortifying experience stayed with him after all these years. Even if he jokes about it now, it was no ordinary incident and had the potential to claim lives.
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