Funnyman Jim Carrey was awarded an honorary doctorate from officials at a university in Iowa on Saturday (24May14).

The Dumb and Dumber actor donned a yellow cap and gown to receive the Doctor of Fine Arts honour at the commencement ceremony at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa.

During his speech, he encouraged graduates to pursue the career they love, no matter how risky it may seem, using his own father, Percy Carrey, as an example.

He says, "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. 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...

"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."