Line #65 Creator/SteveCarell


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6	[[quoteright:285:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mv5bmjmyotm2otk1ml5bml5banbnxkftztgwmti3mzkynjm_v1_37.jpg]]
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8	->''"I never had the preconceived notion, 'I will be a comedic actor.' I just thought, 'I'll go into acting and see what kind of work I can get."''
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10	Steven John Carell (born August 16, 1962 in Concord, Massachusetts) is an UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}-nominated American film and television actor.
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12	First coming to fame as a correspondent on ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJonStewart'' (and like fellow correspondent Creator/StephenColbert a [[Creator/TheSecondCity Second City]] veteran), he is perhaps most recognized for portraying the character of [[Characters/TheOfficeUSMichaelScott Michael Scott]] on ''Series/{{The Office\|US}}'', the American adaptation of [[Series/TheOfficeUK the British sitcom]] (for which he received a Golden Globe Award for best actor in a television comedy series). Since then, he's risen to prominence on the big screen, his first starring feature being ''Film/TheFortyYearOldVirgin'', wherein he portrayed the titular character, Andy Stitzer. However, he had minor film roles prior to that, such as Brick Tamland, the Channel 4 News team's [[TheDitz moronic]] weatherman in ''Film/AnchormanTheLegendOfRonBurgundy'' and Evan Baxter, the SmallNameBigEgo [[TheRival rival]] to Creator/JimCarrey's Bruce Nolan in ''Film/BruceAlmighty''. He's also known for being the voice of Gru in the ''Franchise/DespicableMe'' films, voicing him since 2010. He's since gone on to take on a variety of roles, proving equally adept in comedy and drama, and even showing that he can completely disappear into some truly dark and disturbed characters.
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14	[[HeAlsoDid People tend to forget he's a pretty jam-up writer]]; he co-wrote ''Film/TheFortyYearOldVirgin'' and also wrote the Season 2 finale of ''The Office'' ("Casino Night"), widely regarded as one of the best episodes of the series. On top of this, he and his wife Nancy created the TBS series ''Series/AngieTribeca'' and wrote the pilot episode.
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16	[[IdenticalStranger May or may not actually be the former president of Iran]].
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19	!!Partial filmography:
20	* ''Film/TheFortyYearOldVirgin'' - his first starring role; he also co-wrote the film.
21	* ''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay''
22	* ''Film/AnchormanTheLegendOfRonBurgundy''
23	** ''Film/Anchorman2TheLegendContinues''
24	* ''Film/AsteroidCity''
25	* ''Film/BattleOfTheSexes''
26	* ''Film/BeautifulBoy''
27	* ''Film/{{Bewitched}}'' - ''very'' impressive job of channeling Creator/PaulLynde as Uncle Arthur
28	* ''Film/TheBigShort'' - a serious character who gets a lot of laughs for his abrasive personality, [[NoSocialSkills nonexistent social skills]], and [[SirSwearsALot liberal use of F-bombs]].
29	* ''Film/BruceAlmighty''
30	** ''Film/EvanAlmighty'' - the sequel, starring his character Evan Baxter
31	* ''Film/CafeSociety''
32	* ''Film/CrazyStupidLove''
33	* ''Film/CurlySue'' - his first acting role, playing a bit part as a waiter
34	* ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJonStewart''
35	* ''Film/DanInRealLife''
36	* ''Film/DateNight'' (with Creator/TinaFey)
37	* ''Franchise/DespicableMe''
38	** ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1''
39	** ''Ride/DespicableMeMinionMayhem'' (simulator ride)
40	** ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe2''
41	*** ''Puppy'' (''Despicable Me 2'' Mini Movie, introduction only)
42	*** ''Panic in the Mailroom'' (''Despicable Me 2'' Mini Movie, introduction only)
43	*** ''Training Wheels'' (''Despicable Me 2'' Mini Movie, introduction only)
44	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Minions}}''
45	** ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe3''
46	** ''WesternAnimation/MinionsTheRiseOfGru''
47	** ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe4''
48	* ''Film/DinnerForSchmucks''
49	* ''Film/{{Foxcatcher}}'' - another serious role, playing schizophrenic millionaire John Du Pont.
50	* ''Film/GetSmart'' - the role he was genetically engineered for.
51	* ''WesternAnimation/HortonHearsAWho2008''
52	* ''Film/IF2024''
53	* ''Film/TheIncredibleBurtWonderstone''
54	* ''Film/{{Irresistible}}''
55	* ''Film/KnockedUp'' - a brief cameo AsHimself
56	* ''Film/LastFlagFlying''
57	* ''Film/LittleMissSunshine'' - a rare serious role as a suicidal gay academic.
58	* ''Film/MelindaAndMelinda''
59	* ''Series/TheMorningShow'' - one of the VERY few times he's played a decidedly UNLIKEABLE character; Mitch Kessler, who is America's top morning show host- until he's fired from the network amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
60	* ''Series/TheOfficeUS''
61	* ''Series/ThePatient''
62	* ''WesternAnimation/OverTheHedge''
63	* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' - as Gary, half of "The AmbiguouslyGay Duo" in the recurring ''TV Funhouse'' animated sketches
64	* ''Film/SeekingAFriendForTheEndOfTheWorld''
65	* ''Film/{{Sleepover}}''
66	* ''Series/SpaceForce2020''
67	* ''Film/Vice2018''
68	* ''Film/TheWayWayBack''
69	* ''Film/WelcomeToMarwen''
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71	!!Tropes associated with Steve Carell include:
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73	* CoveredInGunge: This happened to him twice at the [[UsefulNotes/KidsChoiceAward Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards]]. Once was in the 2007 ceremony with Creator/TobeyMaguire, while the other was in the 2010 ceremony with Creator/TinaFey.
74	* DyeingForYourArt: Since attaining silver fox status, he's dyed his hair for roles several times.
75	** That famous (or rather ''infamous'') [[PainfulBodyWaxing chest waxing]] scene in ''Film/TheFortyYearOldVirgin''? [[EnforcedMethodActing One hundred percent real]]. At one point Carell nearly lost a ''nipple'' due to the actress playing the waxer not realizing that you're supposed to cover the aforementioned body part in Vaseline before putting wax on it. Fortunately, director Creator/JuddApatow realized what was happening and yelled "Cut!" just in time.
76	* TheEveryman: Plays a likable, sympathetic NiceGuy fairly often. Examples include: ''Film/TheFortyYearOldVirgin'', ''Film/DanInRealLife'', and ''Film/CrazyStupidLove''.
77	* LargeHam: [[WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1 We are going to steal-pause for effect-THE MOON!]] His character in ''WesternAnimation/OverTheHedge'' (who, appropriately enough, is named Hammy) also definitely qualifies.
78	* PlayingAgainstType: His roles in ''Film/LittleMissSunshine'' and ''Film/TheWayWayBack'', as well as his Oscar-nominated work in ''Film/{{Foxcatcher}}'', are all noted departures for the actor. Mitch Kessler from The Morning Show also counts as this.
79	* StarMakingRole: ''Film/TheFortyYearOldVirgin'', although his performance as Brick Tamland in ''Film/AnchormanTheLegendOfRonBurgundy'' is what got him noticed by Judd Apatow. Ultimately, his role as [[Characters/TheOfficeUSMichaelScott Michael Scott]] thrust him into prominence. In Creator/RainnWilson's book ''The Bassoon King'', he recalls a lunch with the main cast at the start of the show, and Carell said that he had a feeling that "Michael Scott" would be the role he will always be known for.
80	* TomHanksSyndrome: ''Film/LittleMissSunshine'' was the first instance of Steve showing that he has dramatic range and he's moved onto become known as a "serious actor", earning critical acclaim in films like ''Film/{{Foxcatcher}}'' and ''Film/TheBigShort'' while also occasionally going back to the broad comedy he built his reputation on.
81	* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: In ''Series/TheOfficeUS'' and ''Film/TheIncredibleBurtWonderstone''.
82	** He played a FauxAffablyEvil {{Jerkass}} in ''The Way Way Back'', although he was more the antagonist of that movie.
83	* VocalEvolution: His voice as Gru has evolved across the ''Franchise/DespicableMe'' films. In the beginning, he was speaking in his normal voice while using an accent. By the third film, Gru became more guttural and gruff.
84	* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He auditioned to be a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'', but lost the role to Creator/WillFerrell. Despite this, Carell did do voicework for the ''TV Funhouse'' cartoons that aired on ''SNL'' (he was the voice of Gary on "The Ambiguously Gay Duo"), he hosted three times (the season 31 premiere in 2005, the season 33 finale in 2008, and the Thanksgiving episode in 2018), and is married to a former cast member (Nancy Walls from season 21).
85	** He also auditioned for the American version of ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'', but was turned down.

Context Creator / SteveCarell