Jim Carrey Delivers Emotional Commencement Speech, Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree

Comedian got personal about his own struggles and upbringing

By Lily Harrison May 26, 2014 7:39 PMTags
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Jim Carrey left the jokes at home during his commencement speech at Iowa's Maharishi University of Management Saturday.

The 52-year-old comedian opened up about his personal life and became emotional as he spoke about his father and his childhood.

"So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality," he told the graduates.

"My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant."

Carrey continued, "I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you could fail at what you don't love, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love."

The actor also spoke on how he had an epiphany when he was 28-years-old and that he wanted to "free people from concern" through comic relief.

"I've often said that I wish people could realize all their dreams and wealth and fame, so that they could see that it's not where they're going to find their sense of completion," he said. "Your job is not to figure out how it's going to happen for you, it's opening a door in your head, and when the door opens in real life, just walk through it."

Carrey also received an honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts Honoris Caus during the ceremony and told the crowd, "I cannot be contained because I am the container."

Congratulations, Dr. Carrey!