John Stamos Reveals He Was Nearly Cast as the Grinch in Ron Howard’s 2000 Film
John Stamos has revealed that he was nearly cast as the titular character in Ron Howard’s 2000 live-action adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Stamos went through early makeup tests for the character, but was ultimately unable to take on the role due to an allergic reaction to the prosthetics.
Stamos shared the interesting fact during an interview on Wondery’s ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast, stating, “Here’s an interesting fact you don’t know about me. I was originally going to play [The Grinch] in the movie that Jim Carrey got. I went to the makeup test, and I was allergic to all the prosthetics.”
Stamos’ near-casting offers an unexpected perspective on the creative process behind the film. Makeup and prosthetics were crucial in bringing the Grinch to life, requiring the performer to not only endure the demanding transformation but also channel the character’s larger-than-life energy and complex personality.
Interestingly, Stamos isn’t the only one who found the prosthetics required for the role to be a problem. Jim Carrey, who ultimately played the Grinch, also had issues with them. He spent up to two-and-a-half-hours per day having the makeup and prosthetics applied to him, which made it difficult for him to breathe and affected his performance.
Stamos’ near-involvement in the film is an interesting twist to its history. While it’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Carrey as the Grinch, it’s amusing to think about how different the Grinch’s antics might have been with a different comedic sensibility. Stamos’ story is another reminder of how casting decisions shape the stories we love, sometimes in surprising ways.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a 2000 holiday comedy from director Ron Howard, starring Jim Carrey and based on the Christmas book of the same name. Despite getting mixed reviews upon release, Carrey’s performance was praised and the film is now considered a fan-favorite Christmas movie.
