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Jim Carrey pays tribute to ‘The Mask’ director Chuck Russell after his death at 74

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Jim Carrey is remembering one of his former directors.

The actor and comedian paid tribute to “The Mask” director Chuck Russell after the filmmaker’s death Wednesday at the age of 74.

“I consider it a privilege to have worked with Chuck Russell, who during the shooting of ‘The Mask,’ created an ebullient, childlike atmosphere of wonder and camaraderie on his set,” Carrey said in a statement obtained by Page Six.

Jim Carrey paid tribute to “The Mask” director Chuck Russell after the filmmaker’s death Wednesday at the age of 74. Russell and Carrey are seen above on the set of the 1994 film. ©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Mask with his heart bursting out of his chest.
In a statement obtained by Page Six, Carrey (seen above in “The Mask”) called it a “privilege” to have worked with Russell and praised him for creating “an ebullient, childlike atmosphere of wonder and camaraderie on his set.” ©New Line Cinema/courtesy Everet

“The entire cast and crew were touched and inspired by his playfulness,” he continued. “Every one of us has been many years blessed by that buoyant and timeless moment.”

Carrey concluded his statement by thanking Russell and saying he considers “The Mask” to be “one of the jewels of [his] creative life.”

Russell died June 22 in San Diego, his wife Ania confirmed to the New York Times.

Director Chuck Russell posing with
Carrey said the entire cast and crew “were touched and inspired by his playfulness,” referring to Russell (seen here in 1995). Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Jim Carrey speaks onstage at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Carrey (seen here in November 2025) said he considers “The Mask” to be “one of the jewels of [his] creative life.” Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for RRHOF

He is known for directing “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” (1987), “The Blob” (1988), “Eraser” (1996) and “The Scorpion King” (2002).

For his most recent work, 2024’s “Witchboard,” he served as the writer, director and producer.

“The Mask,” which was released in 1994, was a memorable hit for Carrey, releasing the same year he also starred in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Dumb and Dumber.”

Jim Carrey holding
“The Mask” was released the same year Carrey was in both “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Dumb and Dumber.” (Carrey is seen her in the film with co-star Cameron Diaz.) ©New Line Cinema/courtesy Everet
Jim Carrey as the green-faced Mask and Cameron Diaz in a golden dress from the film
Carrey (seen here again in the film with Diaz) has largely retreated from the Hollywood spotlight in recent years, most notably lending his voice to the “Sonic the Hedgehog” film series. ©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection

The film follows Carrey’s down-on-his-luck banker named Stanley Ipkiss who becomes a The Mask, a green-faced mischief-maker, when he dons a mysterious mask.

Cameron Diaz also stars as Tina Carlyle, the girlfriend of mafia leader Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene) who falls for Stanley.

Carrey has largely retreated from the Hollywood spotlight in recent years, only appearing as himself in the 2025 documentary “Starring Dick Van Dyke” and lending his voice to the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖

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