How the Grinch Stole Christmas has now become a firm festive favorite in the run-up to the big day, but as Daily Star finds out the flick’s cheerful atmosphere wasn’t fully felt on set

“How The Grinch Stole Christmas” is one of the most-watched holiday films in the country.

The film, starring legendary comedian Jim Carrey, was released in theaters in 2000 and received rave reviews. Jim’s Grinch outfit has become a firm Christmas favorite with children and was recently sold when it went under the hammer for thousands of pounds.

But while the Hollywood film is best known for its hilarious jokes and spooky costumes, the festive mood off screen wasn’t as positive. Production staff, actors and extras alike were caught up in a number of issues that marred the filming of the Dr. Seuss classic shocked.

As the big day approaches, Daily Star looks at some of the various difficulties and tragedies that occurred on the set of the show.

Tragic early death

Both during and after filming on set, actors faced problems across the board. However, none were as tragic as Joshua Ryan Evans, who played the role of Baby Grinch, Jim Carrey’s younger self, in the film.

In the film, we see the Grinch being bullied by some of his classmates as he tries to move on with his life. The actor who played him, Joshua, was perfect for the role after breaking into Hollywood as an actor with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.

After impressing viewers with his portrayal of the Grinch in 2000, the future looked bright for Joshua as he embarked on a new career in the acting industry. But two years later, at the age of 20, the star tragically passed away in a shocking announcement.

According to CBS News, the star was undergoing medical treatment at a San Diego hospital at the time to treat his heart condition. By a shocking coincidence, the night Joshua died was also the night his character Timmy, the living doll, died in his other project, the TV soap Passion.

Depression and substance abuse

Cindy Lou melted viewers’ hearts as she helped the Grinch experience the miracle of Christmas after he stole all of Whoville’s presents. But in the real world, actress Taylor Momsen has spoken out about the very real depression and substance abuse she faced after being catapulted into the spotlight.

Taylor, now 31, admitted she was still recognized on the street for the role she played when she was seven. When asked why the film still resonates with audiences twenty years later, she said: “I think people just love The Grinch because the core of the story is so sweet and heartwarming and has such a good message .”

After her time on The Grinch, Taylor took on roles in other retellings of old stories, including Hansel and Gretel, as well as new films like Spy Kids 2. But at the height of her career, Taylor hid from the spotlight – instead focusing on other parts of her life, including a punk band of which she is still a member today.

In 2021, following the suicide of bandmate Chris Cornell, Taylor fell into depression and resorted to substances to fill the void. Speaking to Metro after getting clean, she explained: “It knocked me down in a way that I can’t explain and I wasn’t prepared for it as a person; I wasn’t in a good mental state to appear in public.”

Horrifying accusations

Lead actor Jim Carrey was not spared from life’s difficulties after filming on The Grinch was halted, and his career plummeted after allegations were made against him in 2015. The claims were made by Cathriona White, an Irish make-up artist who would eventually take her own life after details of their relationship became public.

Cathriona, who was 25 years younger than Jim, also claimed that Jim introduced her to the terrible world of sex and drugs and even claimed that he “gave” her herpes. After her death, Jim flew to Ireland to carry Cathriona’s coffin, but a feud soon developed between Jim and Cathriona’s family.

The dispute culminated in her family suing Jim for causing Cathriona’s death due to the psychological distress she was suffering from. The case was eventually dismissed out of court, but the damage was done to Jim’s career and he has remained out of the spotlight ever since.

Over time, Jim re-entered the Hollywood scene and landed a role in the 2020 film “Sonic the Hedgehog.” However, two years later, in 2022, Jim announced that he would be retiring from acting and has remained silent since.

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