The tragedy of the young Grinch: Actor who played Jim Carrey’s counterpart died aged 20…


Joshua Ryan Evans won hearts worldwide for his adorable portrayal of the baby Grinch in the 2000 hit film – but the actor tragically passed away just two years after the film’s release.

Due a rare condition called achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism, Joshua appeared younger than his years – and he played the eight-year-old version of Carrey’s Grinch while he was in his teens.

Joshua died during a medical procedure at a hospital in San Diego on August 5, 2002 at the age of 20 while undergoing an operation to correct a congenital heart condition.

Eerily, on the day Josh died, so did his character Timmy the Living Doll on the episode of soap opera Passion that aired that night, after being taped a month earlier.

His friend and Passions’ co-star Juliet Mills told Soap Opera Digest that despite the tragedy: ‘He was a showbiz kid through and through. That’s what he loved more than anything — showbiz.

‘It was a legendary thing to do [to pass away the same day his character died on air]. It was on the news. He made a big bang when he went.’

Born on January 10, 1982 and residing in Hayward, California, Evans was best known for his role in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a 2000 adaptation of Dr Seuss‘s 1957 book. 

Standing at just 3ft 2 (97cm), he had achondroplasia, a rare form of dwarfism that gave him the appearance of a child despite being of adult age. 

Joshua Ryan Evans won hearts worldwide for his adorable portrayal of the baby Grinch in the 2000 hit film – but the actor tragically passed away just two years after the film’s release

Joshua died during a medical procedure at a hospital in San Diego on August 5, 2002 (pictured in June 2002 at the Soap Opera Digest Awards)

Joshua died during a medical procedure at a hospital in San Diego on August 5, 2002 (pictured in June 2002 at the Soap Opera Digest Awards)

Achondroplasia is a form of short-limbed dwarfism, and literally means ‘without cartilage formation’. 

Evans was also born with a congenital heart problem and had to undergo three operations as a child – and this would eventually prove fatal. 

His health issues meant that as a child he spent a lot of time at home watching TV, which inspired him to go into acting, reaching out to an agent at the age of 12. 

He told the LA Times in a 2000 interview: ‘I thought, if it’s all pretend, why can’t I do that?’ 

He added: ‘Watching movies took me away from my own problems and gave me a total escape.

‘I knew that if I could do that for just one person — that if I could help one person escape the way the movies helped me – that would be a great way to spend my life.’ 

His first acting gig was the commercial ‘The Dancing Baby’ for Dreyer’s/Edy’s ice cream. 

He then starred as Stevil in the 90s sitcom Family Matters, playing a haunted ventriloquist’s dummy in two of the Halloween episodes. 

Due to his achondroplasia, Evans would often play roles of children despite being an adult (pictured at the Grinch premiere in 2000)

Due to his achondroplasia, Evans would often play roles of children despite being an adult (pictured at the Grinch premiere in 2000)

Evans was also born with a congenital heart problem and had to undergo three operations as a child - and this would eventually prove fatal. Pictured in 1998

Evans was also born with a congenital heart problem and had to undergo three operations as a child – and this would eventually prove fatal. Pictured in 1998

Josh Ryan Evans at the How The Grinch Stole Christmas DVD Launch Party November 20, 2001 - less than a year before his death

Josh Ryan Evans at the How The Grinch Stole Christmas DVD Launch Party November 20, 2001 – less than a year before his death

WHAT IS ACHONDROPLASIA?

Achondroplasia is a form of short-limbed dwarfism. The word achondroplasia literally means ‘without cartilage formation’. 

However, the problem is not in forming cartilage but in converting it to bone, particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs.

All people with achondroplasia have short stature. The average height of an adult male with achondroplasia is four feet, four inches, and the average height for adult females is four feet, one inch.

Characteristic features of achondroplasia include an average-size trunk, short arms and legs with particularly short upper arms and thighs, limited range of motion at the elbows, and an enlarged head with a prominent forehead. 

Fingers are typically short and the ring finger and middle finger may diverge, giving the hand a three-pronged (trident) appearance. People with achondroplasia are generally of normal intelligence.

Health problems commonly associated with achondroplasia include episodes in which breathing slows or stops for short periods (apnea), obesity, and recurrent ear infections.

Source: nih.gov.

In 1998 he played child prodigy lawyer Oren Koolie in two episodes of Ally McBeal. 

The following year he played a toddler in Baby Geniuses, despite being 17 years old. 

However, the role that shot him to fame was 2000’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas, where he played the younger version of Jim Carrey’s Grinch. 

Evans played the eight-year-old version of the Grinch during his schooldays – which tells the story of how he came to loathe Christmas and its festivities.

While in school, the Grinch had a crush on his classmate, Martha May Whovier. 

However, Augustus MayWho was jealous that Martha liked the Grinch and would bully the Grinch for his hairy appearance. 

His classmates began to make fun of him and eventually he snapped, fleeing to Mount Crumpit and vowing to always hate Christmas. 

Evans played an adorable smaller version of Carey’s character, with the same iconic green make-up and wig. 

To get into character, his make-up alone took five and a half hours – two more than that for Carey. 

Standing at just 3ft 2 (97cm), he had achondroplasia, a rare form of dwarfism (pictured in June 2000)

Standing at just 3ft 2 (97cm), he had achondroplasia, a rare form of dwarfism (pictured in June 2000)

Evans played the eight-year-old version of the Grinch during his schooldays - which tells the story of how he came to loathe Christmas and its festivities

Evans played the eight-year-old version of the Grinch during his schooldays – which tells the story of how he came to loathe Christmas and its festivities

According to director Ron Howard, the role was originally only meant to be a small walk-on part, but he says Evans gave ‘heart’ to the story. 

As it turned out, he was able to create a beloved character and was given a much bigger role to play, with Howard commenting: ‘Josh was just delightful.’ 

Another of his standout roles was as living doll Timmy Lenox in the NBC soap opera Passions, for which he won two Soap Opera Digest Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award. 

Timmy the doll was eventually turned into a real boy by a witch named Tabitha.  

‘I love my life,’ he told E! Online in 2000. ‘Acting is not only what I do, it’s what I am. I can’t imagine spending my life doing anything else.’ 

Tragically, on August 5, 2002, Evans passed away suddenly from complications with his heart condition during a medical procedure in San Diego. 

Bizarrely, that day, NBC aired an episode of Passions where his character had died and donated his heart. 

He was intended to return to the show as an angelic ‘presence’ but the storyline had to be rewritten after his death.  

Another of his standout roles was as living doll Timmy Lenox in the NBC soap opera Passions (pictured)

Another of his standout roles was as living doll Timmy Lenox in the NBC soap opera Passions (pictured)

NBC said at the time: ‘We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of Josh Ryan Evans. 

‘He was a truly unique talent with a remarkable spirit. He will be sorely missed by his Passions family and by all of us at NBC.’ 

When writing autographs, Evans would reportedly always tell his fans to ‘dream big’ and his personal motto was said to be: ‘It’s not the size of the dreamer, it’s the size of the dream.’

‘Dream big’ was also added underneath his name on his gravestone in Forest Lawn, Beverly Hills. 



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