Jim started the buffoonery as a young boy to make his mother laugh. The woman was suffering from a chronic illness, being forced to stay in bed and take lots of pills. Jim would have done anything to ease her pain with a smile [ref]”Carrey: ‘Life Is Too Beautiful’ – Star Talks About Bouts With Depression And His Spirituality” by Rebecca Leung, article published by CBS News on 18th November 2004[/ref]. When he grew up, Jim thought he would do better at making people laugh than sweeping the factory’s floors.