For many, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a cosy staple each festive season, with Jim Carrey’s Grinch etching himself into Christmas movie history. But few know the tragic, eerily timed story of Josh Ryan Evans, who played the young Grinch in the beloved 2000 film.
Evans, born on January 10, 1982, stood at just three feet two inches tall due to achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism. Alongside this, he faced numerous heart-related health issues, enduring multiple surgeries throughout childhood.
During recovery periods, Evans spent hours watching TV and films, fuelling a passion that would become his career.
At 12, he began appearing in television ads before making his film debut as a toddler in 1999’s Baby Geniuses.
The Young Grinch That Stole Our Hearts
Evans’ big moment arrived when he was cast as the young Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His transformation required five and a half hours in the makeup chair for each shoot, but Evans relished the experience, reportedly getting on well with director Ron Howard, per the Daily Mail.
Howard shared: “Evans generated a lot of heart for the story.”
The director initially intended the young Grinch role as a minor appearance, but after meeting Evans, he expanded the part significantly, recognising the actor’s infectious spirit and ability to anchor the film’s emotional core.
Shortly after The Grinch, Evans landed his most significant role, portraying Timmy Lenox, a living doll, on the NBC soap opera Passions. The character quickly became central to the series, earning Evans a Hollywood Reporter YoungStar Award for Best Young Actor in a Daytime TV Series.
NBC described him as: “A truly unique talent with a remarkable spirit. He will be sorely missed by his Passions family and by all of us at NBC.”
A Tragic and Eerie Coincidence
In August 2002, just as Evans was stepping into wider recognition, tragedy struck. Evans passed away suddenly at age 20 due to complications from his heart condition during a medical procedure on August 5.
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In a chilling coincidence, on the very day Evans died, NBC aired an episode of Passions in which his character, Timmy, also dies.
The episode had been filmed weeks earlier, with plans originally in place for Timmy to return later in the series as an angel. Following Evans’ death, those plans were scrapped, and the episode was dedicated to his memory.
His Passions co-star Juliet Mills, who played Tabitha Lenox, reflected on Evans’ love for his craft: “That’s what he loved more than anything — showbiz. It was a legendary thing to do [to die the same day as his character did on screen]. He made a big bang when he went.”
Despite his challenges, Evans pursued his dreams with determination. Director Ron Howard’s words resonate deeply: “Evans generated a lot of heart for the story.”
And he did just that, leaving a legacy that endures each Christmas as audiences rewatch The Grinch, unknowingly paying tribute to the young actor who made a small but lasting mark on the screen and in the hearts of those who knew him.