15 Fun Facts About The Grinch: Christmas's Favorite Anti-Hero

1. The Grinch was originally black and white

In Dr. Seuss's original book, the Grinch didn't have his signature green color. He was drawn in black and white, with only touches of red for his Santa suit.

2. The Grinch became green in the TV adaptation

The Grinch's green color was first introduced in the 1966 animated special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Director Chuck Jones chose green because he felt it gave the character a unique and memorable appearance.

3. The Grinch is a reflection of Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss admitted that the Grinch was inspired by himself. He wrote the book after realizing he was becoming grumpier and less excited about Christmas as he got older.

4. The Grinch has a specific age

In the 1966 animated special, it’s mentioned that the Grinch is exactly 53 years old. This makes him one of the few Dr. Seuss characters with a defined age.

5. Boris Karloff voiced the Grinch

Boris Karloff, famous for playing Frankenstein’s monster, narrated the 1966 animated special and provided the Grinch’s voice. Interestingly, he didn’t sing the famous song "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"—that was done by Thurl Ravenscroft.

6. The Grinch’s song almost didn’t happen

"You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" became a Christmas classic but was nearly left out of the animated special. It was added last minute to give the character more depth.

7. Jim Carrey needed military training to play the Grinch

During the filming of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Jim Carrey underwent special training from a CIA operative to endure the long hours of wearing the Grinch's heavy makeup. He described the process as "torture training."

8. Jim Carrey’s makeup took hours

To transform into the Grinch, Jim Carrey spent about 8 hours a day in the makeup chair. The costume was made of hand-dyed yak fur, and the contact lenses he wore were so uncomfortable they often caused irritation.

9. The 2000 movie broke records

The 2000 live-action adaptation, directed by Ron Howard, was the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time until it was surpassed by the 2018 animated The Grinch, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch.

10. The Grinch has a small heart—but it grows

In the book and films, it’s said that the Grinch’s heart is "two sizes too small." By the end of the story, after discovering the true spirit of Christmas, his heart grows three sizes.

11. Whoville appears in other stories

Whoville, the town of the Whos, also appears in Dr. Seuss's book Horton Hears a Who! This suggests that the Grinch and Horton exist in the same universe.

12. The Grinch is a pop culture icon

Beyond the movies and TV specials, the Grinch has inspired songs, clothing, Christmas decorations, and even memes. He has become a symbol for those who feel "anti-Christmas" but with a humorous twist.

13. The Grinch starred in a Broadway musical

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical debuted on Broadway in 2006, bringing the Grinch’s story to the stage in a musical format.

14. Benedict Cumberbatch brought new life to the Grinch

In the 2018 animated adaptation, Benedict Cumberbatch gave the character a softer and more emotional tone, focusing on his loneliness rather than just his grumpiness.

15. The Grinch almost had a sequel

After the success of the 2000 film, there were discussions about a sequel focusing on the Grinch living in Whoville. However, Dr. Seuss made it clear he didn’t want sequels or expansions of his original stories.

Conclusion

The Grinch may be grumpy, but his story is full of emotion, lessons, and plenty of fun. From his black-and-white beginnings to becoming one of the biggest icons of Christmas, the Grinch continues to win hearts—even those "two sizes too small."

What’s your favorite version of the Grinch?