NFL legend Dan Marino almost turned down his 'Ace Ventura' cameo
Then Marino was ready to turn down a cameo Ace Ventura: Pet Detective until he met Jim Carrey.
“At first I wasn't really planning on doing it, to be honest,” the 62-year-old Hall of Fame quarterback exclusively said We weekly on Tuesday, January 23, while promoting his Super Bowl commercial featuring M&Ms. “Because I read the script. I'm like, 'This is kind of weird.' And then I, then I met Jim Carey, was like, OK, this could be okay.
After meeting Carrey, 62, Marino realized the comedian had a clear vision.
“This guy could take on this whole thing and we could have some fun together. And it turned out to be kind of a cult movie,” said Marino, who played himself in the film. “People still watch it and that's amazing [it’s] is actually still going on.”
The 1994 comedy is not only loved by fans, but is also memorable for Marino's children. The former Miami Dolphins star shares six children with his wife, Claire Veazeyto whom he has been married since 1985. Marino joked that since his children were young when he played football, they know more about his acting days than his football career.
“[Ace Ventura] was something they talked about sometimes,” Marino said of his family's appreciation for his cameo. “That was fun.”
Dan Marino, Jim Carey.
Getty Images(2)In the film, Carrey's character is tasked with solving who stole the Miami Dolphins mascot before the Super Bowl. In the duo's memorable scene, Marino was tied up after being kidnapped by Lieutenant Lois Einhorn, played by Sean Young.
“Ace Ventura, pet detective,” Carey said in the film. “I was sent with a special play, the quarterback sneak.”
While the detective goes to free the footballer, he is caught by the kidnapper and held at gunpoint. Ace begs Lois not to kill him and offers Marino instead. The pair have a hilarious back and forth conversation in which they argue over who should be sacrificed. Ultimately, Ace revealed Lois' plan and the athlete was free to play in the game.
Marino was in the middle of his career as the Dolphins' quarterback when he made the cameo. Nearly fifteen years after announcing his retirement, Marino returned to the Dolphins as a special advisor in the front office, a position he still holds.
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Prior to Super Bowl LVIII, Marino worked with other NFL legends Terrell Owens And Bruce Smith for M&M's “Almost Champions” commercial, which pokes fun at the legends who have never won a Super Bowl. In the clip, the athletes receive their own “almost championship rings.”
“What I like about it is that we have all the near-champions, including Bruce Smith. [Terrell Owens is] in it, and it worked really well,” Marino told us about the ad. “And we're having a bit of fun with it… The whole thing is excellent, and everyone will enjoy it.”
M&M's Super Bowl ad will debut during the big game on Sunday, February 11.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi