Tragedy behind The Grinch from curse of early death to horrific allegations

How The Grinch Stole Christmas is now a firm festive favourite in the run-up to the big day, but as Daily Star finds out - the cheery feel of the flick was not fully felt on set

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

The film, starring legendary funnyman Jim Carrey, was released in cinemas in 2000 to rapturous reviews. Cementing itself as a firm Christmas favourite among children, Jim's Grinch outfit 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, off-screen the festive feeling was not as positive. Production staff, actors and extras alike were caught in a number of issues that rocked the filming of the adaptation of the Dr Seuss classic.

So, as the big day arrives, Daily Star looks at some of the various difficulties and tragedies that took place on the set of the show.

Tragic early death

Joshua suddenly passed away in 2002 - two years after the film(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)

Actors across the board were hit with problems both during and after the filming of the movie on set. None was as tragic, however, than Joshua Ryan Evans, who played the role of the Baby Grinch, Jim Carrey's younger self in the film.

In the film, the Grinch is seen being bullied by a number of his peers at school as he tried to carry on with his life. Actor Joshua, who played him, was perfect for the role after breaking into Hollywood as an actor with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.

Having impressed viewers for his portrayal of the Grinch in 2000, the future looked bright for Joshua as he forged a new career in the acting business. But two years later, at the age of 20, the star would tragically pass away in a shock announcement.

The star, according to CBS News at the time, had been undergoing a medical procedure at a hospital in San Diego to help with a heart condition that he was affected by. In a chilling coincidence, the night that Joshua died was also the night his character Timmy the Living Doll also died on his other project, TV soap Passion.

Depression and drug abuse

Taylor revealed she was plunged into depression after a good friend took his own life(Image: Instagram/taylormomsen)

Viewers' hearts were melted by Cindy Lou as she helped the Grinch see the miracle of Christmas after he stole all of Whoville's presents. But in the real world, actress Taylor Momsen has opened up about the very real depression and substance abuse she faced after she was catapulted into the limelight.

Now aged 31, Taylor admitted she was still being recognised on the street for the role she played when she was seven. When asked why the film continues to speak to audiences over twenty years on, she said: "I think that people love The Grinch just simply because the core of the story is so sweet and it's so heartwarming and it has such a good message."

After her stint on The Grinch, Taylor would bag roles in other retellings of old stories including Hansel and Gretel, as well as new films such as Spy Kids 2. But at the height of her career, Taylor hid away from the limelight - instead focusing on other parts of her life, including a punk band that she is still in today.

In 2021, following the suicide of bandmate Chris Cornell, Taylor was plunged into depression, resorting to substances to fill the void. Speaking to Metro after getting clean, she explained: "It crushed me in a way that I can't explain and I was not prepared for as a person; I wasn't in a good place mentally to be public."

Chilling accusations

Jim and Cathriona were together until she made accusations against the star

Main star Jim Carrey was not spared of life's difficulties after The Grinch stopped filming, with his career plummeting 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 were leaked to the public.

Cathriona, who was 25 Jim's junior, also alleged that Jim had brought her into the horrific world of sex and drugs, and even claimed he had "given her" herpes. Following her death, Jim flew to Ireland to carry Cathriona's coffin, but a feud soon developed between Jim and Cathriona's family.

The rift culminated in her family suing Jim for causing Cathriona's death through mental distress that she suffered from. The case was eventually thrown out of court, but the damage was done to Jim's career and he has stayed out of the limelight since.

Over time, Jim has dipped his toes into the Hollywood scene once again - nabbing a role on the Sonic the Hedgehog film back in 2020. But two years later in 2022, Jim announced he would be retiring from acting and has kept his head down ever since.

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