Steve Carell
The Office, 40-Year-Old Virgin, Foxcatcher, Beautiful Boy
The Secretly Serious Leo
Steve Carell’s Michael Scott may be the most analyzed character in the history of television comedy — a man so desperate for love that he destroys every relationship through the desperation itself. That depth came from a Leo performer who was simultaneously pursuing dramatic awards-bait in Foxcatcher and Beautiful Boy. He is funnier than almost everyone and more serious than most dramatic actors.
Leo Legacy
- The Office: Michael Scott across 7 seasons — one of TV’s most complex comic creations
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin: 2005 Judd Apatow breakout — the chest waxing scene is real
- Foxcatcher: Oscar nomination for Best Actor — chilling against type as John du Pont
- Beautiful Boy: As a father watching his son’s opioid addiction — devastating emotional performance
Carell’s Leo talent is the rarest kind: he can make you laugh and cry with equal authenticity.
“I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to make peace with the fact that I am not perfect.”