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In 1993, Steve Martin and Martin Short refused to star in one of the decade’s most iconic comedies. They called it “grosser than anything”
Steve Martin and Martin Short turned down lead roles in *Dumb and Dumber* after finding its gross-out humour too extreme for their tastes. Their decision mattered because the 1994 comedy became one of the decade’s best-known films, with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels eventually playing the mismatched duo.
Short said he was offered the role of Harry Dunne and could not finish the script, despite the studio offering substantial money. Martin had been considered for the part later played by Carrey; other actors, including Nicolas Cage, Woody Harrelson and Gary Oldman, also declined roles before the Farrelly brothers settled on Carrey and Daniels.
In short
- Martin and Short declined roles in *Dumb and Dumber*.
- Short found its humour grosser than anything he had done.
- Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels eventually starred.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Martin and Short could reasonably reject the film because its deliberately crude humour was not to their taste, and accepting a prominent role would have meant lending their names to material they did not want to perform. Artistic independence and personal standards can matter more than a large fee or the prospect of appearing in a popular comedy.
The case against
The film’s gross-out style was a deliberate comic choice, and audiences and performers may reasonably value comedy that pushes boundaries rather than aiming for refinement. Taking the roles could have offered Martin and Short a chance to shape that material through their performances and take part in a film that became widely recognised.