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Steven John "Steve" Carell (pronounced /kəˈrɛl/; born August 16, 1962)[1] is an American actor, comedian, voice artist, producer, director and writer. Carell became famous for his roles in the television series The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 1999 to 2004, and The Office from 2005 onwards. He has also starred in several Hollywood films, including Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Little Miss Sunshine, Evan Almighty, Dan in Real Life, Get Smart, and Date Night; and voiced characters in the animated films Over the Hedge, Horton Hears a Who!, and Despicable Me.

Carell was nominated as "America's funniest man" in Life magazine. He received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in the Television Comedy Series for his lead role of Michael Scott for the American television series The Office during 2006.

Early life[]

Carell, the youngest of four sons, was born at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, and was raised in nearby Acton by his parents, Harriet T. (née Koch), a psychiatric nurse, and Edwin A. Carell, an electrical engineer.[2][3] His maternal uncle, Stanley Koch, was a glassblower who worked with Allen B. DuMont to create cathode ray tubes.[4] Carell's paternal grandfather was Italian;[2] his father was born with the surname "Caroselli", later shortening it to "Carell".[3] Carell was raised Roman Catholic.[5] He was educated at The Fenn School and Middlesex School. Carell played the fife, performing with other members of his family, and later joined a reenacting group portraying the 10th (North Lincoln) Regiment of Foot. Carell attributed this to his interest in history,[6] in which he earned his degree from Denison University in Granville, Ohio in 1984.[7][8] He originally aspired to become a radio broadcaster, deejaying at WDUB in Granville.

Early career[]

Before opting for a career as a performer, Carell claims that he worked as a mail carrier in Littleton, Massachusetts. He later recounted that he quit after a few months because his boss told him he was not very good as a mail carrier; he needed to be more efficient.[9] He planned on attending law school, but was unable to write an explanation on his application form as to why he wanted to be a lawyer. Early in his performing career, Carell acted on the stage in a touring children's theater company and later in the comedy musical, Knat Scatt Private Eye. He also acted in a television commercial for Brown's Chicken during 1989.[citation needed] After that, Carell performed with Chicago troupe The Second City during 1991, where Stephen Colbert was his understudy for a time. That same year, he obtained his first film work in a minor role as Tesio in Curly Sue.

During the spring of 1996, he was a cast member of The Dana Carvey Show, a primetime sketch comedy program on ABC. Along with fellow cast member Stephen Colbert, Carell provided the voice of Gary, half of The Ambiguously Gay Duo, the Robert Smigel-produced animated short which continued on Saturday Night Live later that year. While the program lasted only seven episodes, The Dana Carvey Show has since been credited with forging Carell's career.[10] During this time, he also played a supporting character for several series including Come to Papa and the short-lived 1997 Tim Curry situation comedy Over the Top. He has made numerous guest appearances, including on an episode of Just Shoot Me titled "Funny Girl."

Other early screen credits include a role in Julia Louis-Dreyfus's short-lived situation comedy Watching Ellie (2002–2003) and Woody Allen's Melinda and Melinda. Carell has also made fun of himself for auditioning for Saturday Night Live but losing the job to Will Ferrell.

Carell was a correspondent for The Daily Show from 1999 until 2005, with a number of regular segments including "Even Stephven" with Stephen Colbert and "Produce Pete."

The Office[]

Main article: Michael Scott (The Office)

During 2005, Carell signed a deal with NBC to star in an American version of the BBC British TV show The Office, a so-called "mockumentary" about life at a mid-sized paper supply company. He plays Michael Scott, the idiosyncratic regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Inc, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Although the first season of the adaptation suffered mediocre ratings, NBC renewed it for another season due to the anticipated success of Carell's movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin,[11] and the series subsequently became a ratings success. Carell won a Golden Globe and Television Critics Association award during 2006 for his Office role. He also received Emmy nominations during 2006 and 2007 for his work in the series.

Carell earned approximately $175,000 per episode of the third season of The Office, twice his salary for the previous two seasons. Carell was allowed "flex time" during filming to work on theatrical films. Carell worked on Evan Almighty during a production hiatus during the second season of The Office.[12]

Production ended during the middle of the fourth season of The Office because of Carell's and others' refusal to cross the picket line of the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike. Carell, a WGA member,[13] has written two episodes of The Office: "Casino Night" and "Survivor Man". Both episodes were praised, and Carell won a Writer's Guild of America award for "Casino Night".[14][15]

On April 29, 2010, Carell stated he would be leaving the show when his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2010-2011 season.[16]

Film career[]

File:SteveCarell07AA.jpg

Carell at the Academy Awards in 2007

Two important roles helped Carell get the attention of audiences: Bruce Almighty, in which Carell plays Evan Baxter (an arrogant rival to Jim Carrey's character), and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, in which Carell plays another news personality, slow-witted weatherman Brick Tamland. Years later he would reprise the role of Evan Baxter in Evan Almighty, a film in which his character from Bruce Almighty has an experience similar to the biblical story of Noah's Ark.

Carell's first starring role was in the 2005 film The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which he developed and co-wrote. The film made $109 million in domestic box office[17] and established Carell as a leading man. It also earned Carell an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance and a WGA Award nomination, along with co-writer Judd Apatow, for Best Original Screenplay.

Carell acted as "Uncle Arthur", imitating the camp mannerisms of Paul Lynde's original character for the 2005 remake of Bewitched with Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. He also voiced a starring role for the 2006 computer-animated film Over the Hedge as Hammy the Squirrel. He also voiced for the 2008 animated film Horton Hears a Who! as the mayor of Whoville, Ned McDodd. He starred in Little Miss Sunshine during 2006, as Uncle Frank. His work in the films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Bewitched established Carell as a member of Hollywood's so-called "Frat Pack" group. (This set of actors includes Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson).

Carell acted as the title character of Evan Almighty, a sequel to Bruce Almighty, reprising his role as Evan Baxter, now a U.S. Congressman. Although, ostensibly, God tasks Baxter with building an ark, Baxter also learns that life can generate positive returns with people offering Acts of Random Kindness. During October 2006, Carell began acting for the film Dan in Real Life, co-starring Dane Cook and Juliette Binoche. Filming ended December 22, 2006, and the film was released on October 26, 2007.

Carell played Maxwell Smart for a movie remake of Get Smart, which began filming February 3, 2007 and was filmed in Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Moscow, Russia. The movie was successful, grossing over $200 million worldwide.[18] During 2007, Carell was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[19][20]

Carell filmed a movie during late 2008 opposite Tina Fey, entitled Date Night. It was released on April 9, 2010 in the US. He has several other projects in the works, including a remake of the 1967 Peter Sellers film The Bobo. He is currently doing voiceover work in commercials for Wrigley's Extra gum.

Carell has launched a television division of his Carousel Prods., which has contracted a three-year overall deal with Universal Media Studios, the studio behind his NBC comedy series. Thom Hinkle and Campbell Smith of North South Prods., former producers on Carell's alma mater, Comedy Central's The Daily Show, have been hired to manage Carousel's TV operations.[21]

Personal life[]

File:Steve Carell with wife Nancy Walls @ 2010 Academy Awards.jpg

Carell with wife Nancy at the 2010 Academy Awards in March 2010

Carell is married to Saturday Night Live alumna Nancy Carell, whom he met when she was a student in an improvisation class he was teaching at Second City.[22] They have two children, Elisabeth Anne "Annie" (born May 25, 2001) and John "Johnny" (born June 2004). Nancy acted with him on The Office as his realtor and short-lived girlfriend Carol Stills, and also cameoed as a sex therapist in The 40 Year Old Virgin.

The Carells have a home in Marshfield, Massachusetts. He recently helped to preserve some of the town's history by purchasing the 155-year-old Marshfield Hills General Store,[23] an antique country store well-known for its candy counter.

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Film Role Notes
1991 Curly Sue Tesio as Steven Carell
2003 Bruce Almighty Evan Baxter
2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Brick Tamland Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team shared with Will Ferrell, David Koechner and Paul Rudd
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Performance shared with Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Fred Armisen
Sleepover Officer Sherman
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Brick Tamland
2005 Melinda and Melinda Walt Wagner
Bewitched Uncle Arthur
The 40-Year-Old Virgin Andy Stitzer MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Performance
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team shared with Romany Malco, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd
Nominated — Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay shared with Judd Apatow
2006 Over the Hedge Hammy Voice
Little Miss Sunshine Frank Ginsburg Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Chlotrudis Award for Best Cast
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Nominated — Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast
Nominated - Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
2007 Evan Almighty Evan Baxter Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Scream
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor: Comedy
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Hissy Fit
Stories USA Mark
Knocked Up Himself
Dan in Real Life Dan Burns
2008 Horton Hears a Who! Ned McDodd: Mayor of WhoVille Voice
Get Smart Maxwell Smart Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
2010 Date Night Phil Foster
Despicable Me Gru Voice
Dinner for Schmucks Barry
2011 Get Smart 2 Maxwell Smart

Television[]

Year Film Role Notes
1996 The Dana Carvey Show Various characters Sketch comedy
1997 Over the Top Yorgo Galfanikos 12 episodes; only 3 aired.
1998 Just Shoot Me Insurance Agent
1999–2004 The Daily Show Correspondent
2005–2011 The Office Michael Scott Writer, episodes "Casino Night" and "Survivor Man"; Director, episode "Broke" and "Secretary's Day"
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2006)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2007, 2008)
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy (2007, 2008)
TV Land Future Classic Award
Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy (2006)
Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy Series shared with ensemble writers (2007)
Writers Guild of America Award for Episodic Comedy for episode "Casino Night"
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Comedy Series (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Nominated — Prism Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Series (2007)
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2006, 2007)
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series (2007, 2008, 2009)
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2009)
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy (2006)
Nominated — Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy (2009)
Nominated — Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy Series shared with ensemble writers (2008, 2009)
2010 2010 Kids' Choice Awards Himself Covered by slime
Todos Contra Juan[24] Argentinian TV sitcom - Season 2/Series finale

Awards[]

Carell won the Spike TV 2008 "Guys Choice", Funniest M.F. Award.[25] and a People's Choice Award for Best Comedic Actor.

Salary[]

  • The Office (Season 3) - $175,000 an episode (renegotiated in 2006).[26] In an Entertainment Weekly interview, he commented on his salary, saying "You don't want people to think you're a pampered jerk. Salaries can be ridiculous. On the other hand, a lot of people are making a lot of money off of these shows."[27]
  • The Office (Seasons 1, 2) - $76,000 an episode
  • Evan Almighty - $5,000,000
  • The 40-Year-Old Virgin - $500,000

References[]

  1. Holloway, Diane (2005-08-16). "Steve Carell's 42, a 'Virgin' and the worst boss ever". Austin-American Statesman. Retrieved 2006-12-30. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/celeb/stevecarell.htm
  3. 3.0 3.1 Gostin, Nicki (2007-06-22). "As Nice as He Is mean". Newsweek. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 
  4. Steve Carell Biography
  5. Pringle, Gill (2007-07-27). "Steve Carell: The American Ricky Gervais is now a major movie star". The Independent (London). Retrieved 2010-06-26. Carell has no witty speech rehearsed when you ask the Catholic comic... 
  6. "Steve Carell Plays the Fife". [Show with David Letterman]. CBS. 20 July 2010. Retrieved on 21 July 2010.
  7. Some Famous History Majors Website accessed 21 July 2010
  8. http://www.denison.edu/offices/publicaffairs/featuredstories/steve_carell_letterman.html
  9. Interview: Steve Carell (March 20, 2006). InFANity: The Office, TV Guide Channel.
  10. Dave, Itzkoff Comedy Ahead of Its Time (if That Time Ever Comes) The New York Times (May 7, 2009). Retrieved on 5-09-10.
  11. "'Office' promotions pay off in a big way." Chicago Tribune. February 23, 2006
  12. "Carell's 'Office' Work Pays Off", @TV.com, dated June 8, 2006
  13. "WGA uses YouTube to state case", The Hollywood Reporter
  14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Night#Reception
  15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Man#Reception
  16. "CNN.com Video". CNN. 
  17. Box office/business for The 40-Year-Old Virgin
  18. GET SMART
  19. abc7.com: Film Academy Invites 115 New Members 6/19/07
  20. Academy Invites 115 to Become Members
  21. [1]
  22. Interview: Steve Carell (January 11, 2006). The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC.
  23. Serpe, Gina. Steve Carell Swaps Office for General Store E! Online, accessed January 15, 2009.
  24. http://www.cronista.com/notas/238521-fin-todos-contra-juan-hollywood-y-steve-carell Steve Carell on the finale of "Todos Contra Juan 2" (in spanish)
  25. 2008: Funniest M. F.
  26. Steve Carell Gets Richer Deal for 'The Office' Andreeva, Nellie; June 8, 2006; Backstage.com: The Actor's Resource
  27. Lynette, Rice (March 30). "Deal or No Deal". Entertainment Weekly. p. 34.  Check date values in: |date=, |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

External links[]

ar:ستيف كارل bg:Стийв Карел ca:Steve Carell cs:Steve Carell da:Steve Carell fa:استیو کارل ko:스티브 카렐 id:Steve Carell it:Steve Carell he:סטיב קארל nl:Steve Carell no:Steve Carell pl:Steve Carell pt:Steve Carell ro:Steve Carell ru:Кэрелл, Стив simple:Steve Carell fi:Steve Carell sv:Steve Carell th:สตีฟ คาเรล tr:Steve Carell uk:Стів Керелл zh:史提夫·卡爾

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