By now, nearly everyone is familiar with the tinsel-time tale of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The story is a perennial classic, reappearing yearly to remind us of a heart's capacity to grow three sizes in one day. Cardiac events notwithstanding, the Grinch has become a beloved holiday figure, and his story has been adapted several times for new audiences. 

While the Chuck Jones-directed 1966 animation is a favorite for many, 34 years later, another Grinch gave ol' Boris Karloff a run for his money. In 2000, audiences were delighted by an updated feature directed by Ron Howard. Opie grew up and delivered on the promise of The Andy Griffith Show's "Christmas Story" by delivering a holiday classic of his own. This movie starred Jim Carrey as the titular Whoville outcast, and his portrayal was instantly iconic.

Carrey's passion for The Grinch's change of heart was clear even before the movie began. But as well-known as the story is, what's not as widely discussed is how Jim Carrey won the approval of a rather discerning third party with a controlling interest in Dr. Seuss's material.

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However, to proceed, Carrey would first have to convince Audrey Geisel, Seuss's widow, of his vision. We all know now that Jim Carrey was the man for the job, but in hindsight, questions may have arisen regarding the actor's transition into more family-friendly fare. So, to secure the movie, it was up to Carrey to woo Geisel.

Matters were further complicated by Man on the Moon, the notorious production that saw Carrey playing dead actor/comedian Andy Kaufman. It was an unprecedented approach to biographical filmmaking, as he and director Milos Forman experimented with how to correctly portray the impish Kaufman onscreen. For Carrey, that meant inhabiting Kaufman 24/7, and the method-acting nearly upended this very important business deal.

"He invited Mrs. Geisel to the set [of Man on the Moon]," Howard recalls, "and for a while, he was talking to her like Andy Kaufman." Not even a future-blockbuster could take Jim Carrey out of the moment. While Geisel may have been impressed by his commitment, she needed to be reassured that it was box office dynamo Jim Carrey that would be fronting the picture, not Andy Kauffman.

"And then he'd drop that and turn back to her and be the Grinch for a whole minute of Grinchiness, including the big grin, and she was totally enthralled," said Howard.

"By the time I came to her with my idea, she said to me, 'I love it, and I want Jim Carrey to play the Grinch.' Which is what I wanted to hear because I probably wouldn't have done the movie with anyone else."