It’s been 10 years since the tragic passing of 30-year-old Irish make-up artist, Cathriona White, the on/off girlfriend of Hollywood actor Jim Carrey, who parted with some haunting last words
While Jim Carrey may be best known for his comedy roles on the big screen, he has endured deep heartache in real life. The star, most loved for his hilarious parts in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Dumb and Dumber and Liar Liar to name but a few, has spent the last decade in a much darker place.
It was September 28, 2015 when his former girlfriend, Cathriona White took her own life just days after they split. The death of the 30-year-old Irish make-up artist sent shockwaves throughout Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the intense private struggles that often remain hidden behind celebrity headlines.
Here, we take a look back at the tragedy and the notes she left behind.
Heartbreaking notes
Cathriona White was found dead in her Los Angeles home just days after breaking up with Jim Carrey. Her cause of death was confirmed as a lethal overdose of multiple prescription medications, including zolpidem (Ambien) and painkillers oxycodone and oxymorphone.
The subsequent release of the coroner’s report revealed heartbreaking details from a suicide note addressed to Carrey, and signed “Dewdrop,” the affectionate pet name he had for her.
The note conveyed her deep emotional distress following their split. It said:”I’ve spent 3 days now in disbelief that you’re not here. I can go on brokenhearted and try to put the pieces back. I could, I just don’t have the will this time… Please forgive me. I’m just not for this world.”
Upon her death, Jim Carrey issued an emotional statement, describing her as a “truly kind and delicate Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil, to whom loving and being loved was all that sparkled.” He later served as a pallbearer at her funeral in her hometown of Cappawhite, County Tipperary, Ireland.
The legal battle
The tragedy was compounded by a protracted and ugly legal battle. White’s estranged husband, Mark Burton, and her mother, Brigid Sweetman, filed wrongful death lawsuits against Jim Carrey, alleging that he used his celebrity status to illegally obtain and distribute the prescription drugs she used to take her life.
The lawsuits included shocking allegations, such as claims that Carrey had provided White with the drugs under the bogus name “Arthur King” and had given her multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs)—claims Carrey vehemently denied.
Carrey described the lawsuits as a “heartless attempt to exploit” him, filing a countersuit alleging that White had previously blackmailed him with false claims. The legal saga came to an end in February 2018 when the case against Jim Carrey was dismissed. His attorney presented evidence suggesting Cathriona White had forged medical records regarding the STIs.
A lasting reminder
Ten years on, Cathriona White’s passing remains a stark reminder of the complexities of mental health struggles and the pressures of relationships conducted in the public eye. Her last social media post, made just days before her death, offered a chilling message: “Signing off Twitter, I hope I have been a light to my nearest and dearest.”
The details of the Jim Carrey’s ex-girlfriend’s final days were revealed in an emotional video about the coroner’s report and suicide note: Final Days of Jim Carrey’s Ex-Girlfriend Revealed In Suicide Note and Autopsy.
Moving on
Since then, Cathriona’s mother spoke out about the star reviving his career. Carrey, who announced his retirement from Hollywood in 2022, starred in the third Sonic movie, in which he played mad scientist, Dr Robotnik. He had roles in the likes of The Mask and Ace Ventura, at one point being one of the best-paid actors ever.
Despite previously confirming Sonic 2 would be his last ever movie, he came out of retirement for the new film, that also features Keanu Reeves. In a red carpet interview, Carrey told reporters that he ‘needs the money’, adding that he’d “bought a lot of stuff”.
Speaking to the Associated Press, he said: “I came back to this universe ’cause, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch, and it’s just… it’s just… I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly.” Carrey added: “At the same time, it had heart, and that’s why I did it the first time. There was something beautiful about the heart of the piece. I hope it will bring families together and cure several diseases.”
But one person who has no sympathy for Carrey’s financial situation, after it was also revealed he dropped the asking price for his LA mansion by $10 million, is his ex girlfriend’s mother Brigid Sweetman.
Speaking to the Mail, Brigid said: “I have nothing good to say about him and do not even want to say his name. My heart is still broken over Cathriona.”
She added: “I have heard what he said about needing the money, and I do not care. If he is broke, I don’t care one bit. I have never spoken to him and never want to speak to him. Since Cathriona’s death it has been the worst years.
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