What happened to Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, and more after leaving Whoville? How the Grinch Stole Christmas cast: See Jim Carrey and his costars, then and now What happened to Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, and more after leaving Whoville? and Kevin Jacobsen November 29, 2025 11:00 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/thegrinchtaylormomsenjimcarrey1203249b3659874a274f8c89d89c35cd3843eb.jpg) Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who and Jim Carrey as the Grinch in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'.

What happened to Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, and more after leaving Whoville?

*How the Grinch Stole Christmas *cast: See Jim Carrey and his costars, then and now

What happened to Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, and more after leaving Whoville?

and Kevin Jacobsen

November 29, 2025 11:00 a.m. ET

Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who and Jim Carrey as the Grinch in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. Credit:

Ron Batzdorff/Universal

For a generation of young millennials, Ron Howard's *How the Grinch Stole Christmas* (2000) has become as important a holiday tradition as Dr. Seuss' original children's book and 1966 animated special. This live-action adaptation expands the story of the titular curmudgeonly creature who hopes to ruin Christmas for the happy citizens of Whoville, giving us a glimpse into his tragic childhood and adding new characters.

Jim Carrey, wearing layer upon layer of green makeup and prosthetics, lends his signature goofy star persona to the lead role, while character actors like Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon fulfill their Whoville roles with aplomb. The film also made a star of Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who, who memorably sings the twinkly ballad "Where Are You Christmas?".

With the film now celebrating its 25th anniversary, we're taking a look at what the cast has been up to in the 21st century, from major career shifts to award-winning work.**

Jim Carrey (The Grinch)

Jim Carrey as the Grinch in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Jim Carrey arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures' 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' at the Regency Village theatre in Westwood, Calif., on April 5, 2022.

Ron Batzdorff/Universal; CChris Delmas/AFP via Getty

Jim Carrey plays the eponymous Grinch, a fiendish Whoville outlaw who declares war on the festive season.

Carrey told *** *in 2000 that getting into costume was quite an ordeal. "I was having a lot of trouble with the Grinch suit, so they brought a guy in who actually teaches people how to handle torture, and he gave me a couple of tips. You just forget [the pain]."

After making his reputation in sketch comedy, Carrey broke big in 1994 with three hits — *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb and Dumber, *and *The Mask* — that made him a bona fide star. The rubber-faced comedian went on to play the Riddler in *Batman Forever* (1995) and starred in *The Cable Guy *(1996) and *Liar Liar *(1997) before making his first dramatic detours. His performances in *The Truman Show* (1998) and the Andy Kaufman biopic *Man on the Moon* (1999) earned him back-to-back Golden Globes.

The Canadian actor continued to flex his dramatic muscles in *The Majestic *(2001) and the romantic sci-fi head-trip *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind *(2004). But he never left comedy behind, headlining *Bruce Almighty *(2003), *Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events* (2004), and *Yes Man* (2008). Carrey returned to television with a role as a grieving father in *Kidding* and plays Dr. Robotnik in the ongoing *Sonic the Hedgehog* cinematic franchise.

Carrey was married to Melissa Womer from 1987 to 1995. They have a daughter, Jane. The actor later wed his *Dumb and Dumber *costar Lauren Holly in 1996. She filed for divorce less than a year later.

Taylor Momsen (Cindy Lou Who)

Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Taylor Momsen at the Adidas x Stella McCartney Launch Event held at Henson Recording Studios on Feb. 2, 2023, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Ron Batzdorff/Universal; Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty

Taylor Momsen plays Cindy Lou Who, a curious child who wants to extend Christmas greetings to the Grinch.

Momsen was 7 years old when she brought Cindy Lou to life, but it took a toll on her middle-school years. "*The Grinch* changed my life in a multitude of ways — one of them being I was made fun of relentlessly," she admitted on *Gossip Girl* costar Penn Badgley's podcast. "Every time I would start a new school or go somewhere else, I don't even think the kids knew my name. I was just Grinch Girl...I got used to it, but it was alienating."

After a few more children's movies and a supporting part in Gus Van Sant's *Paranoid Park *(2007), the "Grinch Girl" joined *Gossip Girl* as Jenny Humphrey.

While the show was a hit, Momsen increasingly turned her attention to music, forming the band the Pretty Reckless in 2009. Two years later, she devoted herself full-time to music, leaving *Gossip Girl* in the middle of the fourth season. The band has four studio albums and seven chart-topping singles under its belt. In 2025, Momsen performed with Soundgarden at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where the surviving members were inducted — *Grinch* costar Jim Carrey introduced the set.

Jeffrey Tambor (Mayor Augustus May Who)

Jeffrey Tambor as Mayor Augustus May Who in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Jeffrey Tambor at SiriusXM's Town Hall on May 21, 2018, in New York City.

Ron Batzdorff/Universal; Cindy Ord/Getty

Jeffrey Tambor is the corrupt Mayor of Whoville and the Grinch's lifelong tormenter, Augustus May Who, who sets his hatred of Christmas in motion.

The long-time character actor is well known as talk-show sidekick Hank Kingsley on *The Larry Sanders Show*. Not content with one iconic sitcom role, he added another as crooked family patriarch George Bluth (and occasionally his twin brother, Oscar) on *Arrested Development*.

His most decorated performance came in the lead role of Amazon's *Transparent* as a transgender woman, taking home two Emmys for his work. However, he was later fired from *Transparent* following allegations of sexual misconduct and didn't appear in the show's final season.

As for film, Tambor has appeared in the likes of *There's Something About Mary *(1998), *Hellboy *(2004), *The Hangover *(2009), and *The Death of Stalin *(2017).

Tambor married Kasia Ostlun in 2001. The pair share four children: Gabriel, Eve, and twins Hugo and Eli. He also has daughters from previous relationships.

Christine Baranski (Martha May Whovier)

Christine Baranski as Martha May Whovier in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Christine Baranski attends HBO & Max Post-Emmy Reception at San Vicente Bungalows on Sept. 15, 2024, in West Hollywood, Calif.

Ron Batzdorff/Universal; Jerod Harris/Getty

Christine Baranski plays Martha May Whovier, the Who with the most perfect Christmas decorations in Whoville.

A veteran stage actress, Baranski broke into television with an Emmy-winning performance as Cybill Shepherd's sarcastic best friend on the sitcom *Cybill*. She played ruthless litigator Diane Lockhart on *The Good Wife* and headlined the spinoff, *The Good Fight*. She also had a prominent recurring role as Leonard's mother on *The Big Bang Theory*. Baranski starred in the second season of *Nine Perfect Strangers* and currently has a scene-stealing supporting role as Agnes von Rhijn on the HBO period drama *The Gilded Age.*

In addition to two Tony wins, she's amassed 16 Emmy nominations throughout her small-screen career. The Broadway vet has also become a regular in big-screen musicals, appearing in *Chicago* (2002), *Mamma Mia!* (2008), *Into the Woods* (2014), and *Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again* (2018).

Baranski was married to Matthew Cowles from 1983 until his death in 2014. They have two daughters, Isabel and Lily.

Taylor Momsen didn't know what 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' costar Jim Carrey actually looked like

Actors who have played the Grinch, from Boris Karloff to James Austin Johnson

Bill Irwin (Lou Lou Who)

Bill Irwin as Lou Lou Who in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Bill Irwin at the 'Law & Order: SVU' 25th Anniversary Celebration held at Peak Restaurant on Jan. 16, 2024, in New York City.

Universal/Courtesy Everett; Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

Bill Irwin plays Lou Lou Who, a postal worker and the protective father of Cindy Lou.

Originally a professional clown and stage actor, Irwin won a Tony for *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? *in 2005. But parents and children may know him as Mr. Noodle from *Sesame Street*'s "Elmo's World" segments.

He's become a familiar face across film and television, appearing as Anne Hathaway's father in *Rachel Getting Married* (2008), Matthew McConaughey's wisecracking tactical robot in *Interstellar *(2014), and Mariska Hargitay's therapist on *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*. He was also a regular on FX's surreal comic-book series *Legion* as a mutant scientist who shares a body with a fellow mutant played by Amber Midthunder.

Irwin's marriage to Kimi Okada lasted from 1977 to 1982. He later married Martha Roth in 1990. The couple adopted a son, Santos.

Molly Shannon (Betty Lou Who)

Molly Shannon as Betty Lou Who in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Molly Shannon attends the season 4 premiere of Hulu's 'Only Murders in the Building' at Paramount Studios on Aug. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Universal/Courtesy Everett; Kevin Winter/Getty

Molly Shannon is Betty Lou Who, Cindy Lou's concerned mother.

Shannon made her name on *Saturday Night Live* and was shooting *The Grinch* simultaneously with her work on the show. It wasn't easy, as she told EW in 2022: "I would get back on the plane Sunday night from New York City to be back in L.A. for a 4 a.m. wake-up because it took hours to put on that prosthetic makeup. It was really hard, but the fact that I pulled that off — shooting both those giant jobs at once — is a miracle."

The actress parlayed her best-known *SNL *character, anxious high schooler Mary Katherine Gallagher, into a feature film, *Superstar* (1999). She's been a regular on the comedy circuit ever since, with TV roles on *Will & Grace*, *Sex and the City*, and *The White Lotus* as well as big-screen appearances in *Wet Hot American Summer* (2001) and *Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby *(2006), among others. The actress has even subverted expectations with her performances in Sofia Coppola's *Marie Antoinette *(2006) and as Emily Dickinson in *Wild Nights With Emily *(2018).

Her television career has continued, starring on *The Other Two* and appearing in season 4 of *Only Murders in the Building *as a clueless Hollywood executive*.* She also released her memoir, *Hello, Molly!*, in 2022.

Shannon and her husband, Fritz Chestnut, wed in 2004. They share two children, Stella and Nolan.

Anthony Hopkins (Narrator)

Anthony Hopkins at the 'Hearts in Atlantis' premiere at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Canada, in 2001; Anthony Hopkins attends the LEAP Foundation on July 25, 2018, in Los Angeles, Calif.

J. Vespa/WireImage; Greg Doherty/Getty

The film's narration is performed by none other than Sir Anthony Hopkins.

A legendary actor of stage and film, Hopkins has been commanding the screen since the late-1960s, from *The Lion in Winter *(1968) to the war epic *A Bridge Too Far* (1977) and David Lynch's *The Elephant Man* (1980).

His career hit another level with *The Silence of the Lambs* (1991), as he turned suave sociopath Hannibal Lecter into an all-time pop culture icon. He won his first Oscar for the role and later earned nominations for *The Remains of the Day* (1993), *Nixon* (1995), and *Amistad* (1997) — not to mention his turn as Van Helsing in *Bram Stoker's Dracula *(1992) and an aging Zorro in *The Mask of Zorro *(1998).

While popping up as Marvel's Odin in the *Thor* franchise and as the theme park creator on HBO's heady sci-fi drama *Westworld*, the Welsh actor has continued to add to his award shelf. He nabbed an Oscar nom for playing Pope Benedict in *The Two Popes* (2019) before winning his second gold statuette for the Alzheimer's drama *The Father *(2020).

Hopkins has been married three times: to Petronella Barker (1966–1972), Jennifer Lynton (1973–2002), and Stella Arroyave since 2003. He has a daughter, Abigail, from his first marriage.

Clint Howard (Bris Who)

Clint Howard as Bris Who in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Clint Howard visits SiriusXM's New York headquarters for a special 'Unmasked' with SiriusXM host Ron Bennington on Oct. 11, 2021, in New York City.

Universal/Courtesy Everett; Astrid Stawiarz/Getty

Clint Howard is Bris, the eager and attentive assistant of Whoville's esteemed Mayor.

Howard began acting when he was 2 years old on *The Andy Griffith Show* and has racked up hundreds of screen credits. He's perhaps best known for roles in movies directed by his brother, Ron Howard, including *The Grinch*. Their collaborations include *Cocoon* (1985), *Parenthood* (1989), *Apollo 13* (1995), and *Solo: A Star Wars Story *(2018). And yes, we're counting Clint guest-starring in two episodes of *Arrested Development*, a series narrated by Ron.

The popular character actor, who received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his guest role on *The Bold and the Beautiful* in 2025, also has a long history with the *Star Trek* franchise, dating back to an episode of the original series when he was 7 years old. He's since appeared on *Deep Space Nine*, *Enterprise*, *Discovery*, and *Strange New Worlds*.

Howard was briefly married to Ann Marie Lynch in the late 1980s and later to Melanie Sorich from 1995 to 2018. In 2020, he wed Kat Cruz. The couple has a daughter, Rafa'ella.

Mindy Sterling (Clair Nella Who)

Mindy Sterling as Clair Nella Who in 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'; Mindy Sterling attends the Groundlings' 50th Anniversary Party at Jonathan Club on Oct. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Universal Pictures; Amanda Edwards/Getty

Mindy Sterling plays Clair Nella Who, one of the Grinch's adoptive mothers who tries to raise him to fit in with Whoville's other citizens.

The character actress is best remembered as the villainous Frau Farbissina, one of Dr. Evil's most loyal lackeys, in the Austin Powers franchise. She has played several recurring roles on television, including a bitter English teacher on Nickelodeon's *iCarly* and a snarky neighbor on *Desperate Housewives*. She had a six-season run on *The Goldbergs* as Linda Schwartz and earned two Emmy nominations for her roles on the short-form series *Con Man* and *Secs & Execs*.

Sterling has also maintained a voice acting career, playing characters in *Monsters University* (2013) and the *Despicable Me* series, among many others. She returned to her Who days with a minor role in the computer-animated version of *The Grinch* (2018).

Sterling has a son, Max, with her ex-husband, Brian Gadson.

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Published: December 01, 2025 at 09:38AM on Source: MARIO MAG

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