In the hearts of many, the Grinch is an iconic figure closely associated with the holiday spirit.

Despite its status as a timeless favorite, the 2000 version of the story has faced its fair share of challenges, with the cast encountering a range of problems throughout the years.

Originating in 1957, the beloved character has been featured in multiple animated versions over the years. Notably, it was Jim Carrey who famously portrayed the iconic Dr. Seuss character in the movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Despite the film's immediate success, some of the cast members have encountered challenges following its debut.

Jim Carrey

Playing the lead role, Jim Carrey was a favored choice of the late Dr. Suess' wife to portray the main character.

Drawing from his extensive background in comedy, he skillfully portrayed the reclusive figure who undergoes a transformative journey to discover the essence of Christmas.

Ironically, Carrey's off-screen life presented a stark contrast to the lighthearted and touching narrative depicted in the film.

In 2015, there was a tragic incident involving the actor and his former girlfriend, Cathriona White, who was 30 years old at the time. Her untimely death sparked a wave of allegations directed towards Carrey.

In a message left on White's iPad before her death, she wrote, "You did good things for me but being with you broke me down as a person, Jim."

"I was promised Jekyll and instead I got Hyde."

"Because I love you I would have stuck out Hyde all year and done everything he wanted to be with Jekyll for five of those, but you threw me away when you absorbed anything worthwhile that was left of me."

Following her allegations, Carrey, who earned $20 million salary for portraying the Grinch in a film, was accused of transmitting herpes to her.

The actor paid his respects at her funeral in County Tipperary, yet a conflict arose between him and the White family shortly thereafter.

Following a legal dispute with her mother and White's former husband, Carrey faced a lawsuit alleging his actions contributed to White's mental anguish and tragic death by suicide.

Despite the lawsuit being thrown out, the Canadian actor has since chosen to step back from public view.

Following Cathriona's passing, the actor paid tribute to her by portraying her as a "truly kind and delicate Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil."

Carrey's latest on-screen appearance was in "Sonic the Hedgehog" movies, where he candidly admitted he took the role for financial reasons while maintaining a low profile otherwise.

Taylor Momsen

At seven years old, Taylor Momsen embraced the character of Cindy Lou Who, forming a heartwarming bond with the Grinch.

Fast forward to the present day at 31, Momsen candidly shared her journey through a tumultuous period marked by deep depression and substance misuse while transitioning from the world of acting to leading the punk rock band The Pretty Reckless.

She previously showed off her talent in memorable roles like the President's daughter in "Spy Kids" and the recurring character Jenny Humphrey in "Gossip Girl."

Transitioning from her pristine child star persona to a bold new look featuring bleached locks, heavy eyeliner, and torn tights, she opened up about the loss of two dear friends whom she met through music.

Reflecting on the tragic loss of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell in 2017, she vividly remembered how his untimely death deeply impacted her. The news hit her unexpectedly, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and unprepared to process the sorrow.

"I needed to attempt to process what had happened and kind of get my s*** together."

In the following year, tragedy struck when music producer Kato Khandwala tragically passed away in a motorcycle crash, leaving Momsen devastated and grappling with loss once more.

"It was the nail in the coffin for me. He was so much more than a producer, he was a fifth member of the band and my best friend in the world."

Joshua Ryan Evans

Following the release of the movie, audiences were enchanted by Joshua Ryan Evans' portrayal of the young version of Grinch in the movie. Unfortunately, just two years after the movie hit theaters, the actor behind the beloved role passed away.

Evans' unique appearance, attributed to a rare condition known as achondroplasia, added to the authenticity of his performance as the eight-year-old version of the iconic character.

According to a CBS report, he passed away while undergoing a medical intervention at a San Diego hospital in July 2002 when he was just 20 years old. The procedure was meant to address a congenital heart issue he had been dealing with.

Interestingly, on the same day that he died, his on-screen persona, Timmy the Living Doll, met a similar fate on an episode of the soap opera "Passion" that aired that evening, having been recorded a month prior.

His co-star Juliet Mills told Soap Opera Digest that despite the tragedy, "He was a showbiz kid through and through. That's what he loved more than anything: showbiz."

"It was a legendary thing to do [to pass away the same day his character died on air]. It was on the news. He made a big bang when he went."

Jeffrey Tambor

In the holiday film, the 80-year-old performer portrayed Mayor Augustus, the leader of Whoville, who tormented the Grinch during his younger years.

However, reality started to mirror fiction when Tambor faced allegations of misconduct towards coworkers and accusations of inappropriate behavior on the set of the Amazon series "Transparent" in 2018.

In response to allegations brought forward by his former personal assistant, Van Barnes, and "Transparent" co-star Trace Lysette, Tambor vehemently denied the claims, calling them "unfounded."

He labeled Barnes as a "disgruntled assistant," adding, "Lines got blurred. I was difficult, I was mean... I was rude to my assistant. I was moody. Sometimes I didn't talk at all."

Tags
Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor