Melissa Womer is an American actress, producer, and writer. She is best known for her acting roles in the motion films “Petrocelli” and “Man on the Moon” as well as for producing the TV programs “Real Stories of Donut Men” and “The Yesterday Show with John Kerwin.”
Womer’s career kicked off as a cocktail waitress at a comedy store. At that store, the gorgeous actress also first laid eyes on Jim Carrey.
At the time, he was still doing shows for $25 a night and was often getting booed by the crowd because of his bewildering routines. However, Womer saw stardom in him and eventually married him.
As an actress, Womer did not achieve a lot of mainstream success. However, her decision to marry Carrey catapulted her to fame. Keep reading to find out why they parted, as well as details of their relationship.
Who Is Melissa Womer?
Melissa Jaine Womer was born to Liam Womer and Jennifer Jensen on July 8, 1960, in New York City, United States. There is no information about her siblings, if they exist, but sources claim the family was dysfunctional.
Womer’s early life was filled with struggles, but she was determined to make something of herself despite the challenges. So, she worked hard and got accepted into the University of Kansas.
While she studied at the university, Womer did menial jobs like writing jokes for a morning radio show in Kansas City to get by. After she graduated, she moved to Hollywood, where she got involved in the comedy scene.
In Hollywood, she worked as a cocktail waitress at a comedy store on Sunset Boulevard. Not long after, Womer was privileged to feature in an open mic night at the store. And as time passed, she became one of the favorite characters at the comedy store.
She branched into acting in 1974 when she was featured in her first motion picture titled “Petrocelli.” After that, Womer appeared in “Man on the Moon.” She has also produced a few TV series. Aside from being an actress, Womer is also known as a writer and producer with a handful of TV shows under her belt, such as “The Yesterday Show with John Kerwin” and “Real Stories of Donut Men.”
Melissa Womer and Jim Carrey’s Relationship
When Womer met Carrey, he was a struggling actor and comedian. She met him at the Comedy Store, and they immediately hit it off with each other. They officially started dating in 1986.
The following year, they tied the knot at a Santa Monica, California hotel. A few months later, on September 6, 1987, they welcomed their daughter, Jane Erin Carrey. Even though Carrey and Womer supported each other in the early days of their careers, their union ended just like regular Hollywood romances — in court.
Carrey filed for divorce from Womer in the mid-1990s. A high-stakes divorce settlement followed that saw Womer demand about $5-10 million from him. Ultimately, she received only $3.5 million, but after eight years of separation, she got $7 million for their daughter Jane.
Why Did Jim Carrey Leave Melissa Womer?
When Carrey filed for divorce from Womer, he cited their busy careers. However, according to some reports, he left her to be with Lauren Holly.
This has been disproven by Holly herself, who came out to debunk rumors she was the one who destroyed Carrey and Womer’s marriage. According to her, his relationship with Womer was over when they started dating.
She said, “I feel for Melissa, but they were completely apart when Jim and I met.”
Indeed, the real reason behind his split from Womer was his success in Hollywood. Carrey claimed his fame got him so carried away he was unable to handle his old home life.
Womer endured but eventually put her foot down, telling him, “You must come home and put your feet back on the ground and take your garbage out like everyone else, or I can’t be married to you.”
Carrey, now ranked among great actors like Liam Neeson, chose his career and filed for divorce on November 1, 1994. On the surface, he seemed unaffected by the separation, but deep within, it devastated him.
Of course, he never tried to reconcile with Womer, and after their split, he went on to have several failed relationships with high-profile women, including Jenny McCarthy.