Back then: Raised in Canada, Carrey fell on hard times during his early teens, when his father was laid off. To help make ends meet, a teenage Carrey worked as both a janitor and a security guard before eventually dropping out of high school. Over time the situation worsened and the family lost their home, leading them to live in a van.

Now: Best known for his malleable face, Carrey has little trouble getting laughs. Although his departures from funnyman fare - most recently with mystery thriller 'The Number 23' - have cost him at the box office, Carrey still garners big roles and big bucks.