Top 10 Steve Carell

Steve Carell flexed his comedy muscles as a correspondent on the Jon Stewart show from 1999-2004 and Hollywood quickly saw star potential. He's managed to juggle TV and film work impressively, appearing in Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Evan Almighty all whilst starring in seven series of The US Office. In honour of perhaps his goofiest role to date in Dinner for Schmucks, we look back at some of the funnyman's funniest big and small-screen moments.

His Top 10 Films

Saturday Night Live (12 episodes, 1996-2007)

In 1995, an unknown comedy couple, Mr and Mrs Carell, auditioned for America’s famous comedy sketch show. Nancy Carell was hired on the spot, but husband Steve lost out to future co-star Will Ferrell. Carell got into SNL a year later through the back door, though: providing the voice of Gary in "The Ambiguously Gay Duo", a recurring animated segment on The Dana Carvey Show, which then transferred over to Saturday Night Live.

Rent

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Under the wing of Jim Carrey, Carell got the opportunity to flex his sketch-show character skills in feature length comedy as local anchorman Evan Baxter in 2003’s Bruce Almighty. When Bruce makes a deal with God and plays with the big man’s thunder, Evan becomes primary victim of his co-worker’s torments. The film attracted some controversy when it used a valid telephone number as God’s contact number on a pager. Bruce-Almighty/16930/" title="Bruce Almighty" class="rent">Rent Rent Watch Trailer

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Carell again took up post in a newsroom, this time as weatherman Brick Tamland. Complete with an appreciation for inanimate objects, Tamland is a hilarious addition to the Channel Four News team, if a little slow on the uptake. Among a riotous cast that includes Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Christina Applegate, Carell deservedly carved a reputation as an up-and-coming comedian in the world of mainstream movies.

Rent Watch Trailer

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

Cementing his big-screen status, Carell stepped up to the challenge of playing The 40 Year Old Virgin with consummate ease, working with heavyweight director Judd Apatow. There was an on-screen reunion with real-life wife Nancy, who got the role of a Health Clinic Counsellor (sex therapist) on the recommendation of fellow cast member Jane Lynch, and the film was considered a success by critics and the box office alike.

Rent Watch Trailer

The Office (111 episodes, 2005-2010)

Carell had no idea just how huge his return to TV would turn out to be when he became the American David Brent in 2005, as Ricky Gervais’ mockumentary hit was re-written and pitched to US telly studios. Apparently, Carell only watched two minutes of the original before switching it off, because he didn’t want to copy Gervais’ performance. In 2007, production stalled due to the writer’s strike, which Carell fully backed.

Rent Watch Trailer

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

The Oscar-winning Little Miss Sunshine saw Carell take a supporting role in a black comedy ensemble. Having recently attempted to commit suicide, Uncle Frank (Carell) is dragged along to his niece’s beauty pageant with the rest of his dysfunctional family. Bill Murray and Robin Williams were the studios’ initial choices for Frank, but budgetary restrictions paved the way for Carell to get the gig.

Rent Watch Trailer

Evan Almighty (2007)

After the success of Bruce Almighty, Carrey was courted for a sequel, but his unwillingness to reprise the role prompted the studio to go for a Bruce-less follow-up. Jennifer Aniston also bailed, but director Tom Shadyac returned, along with Morgan Freeman as the Almighty, and Carell’s hapless newsman-turned-Congressman is upgraded to centre-stage, becoming God’s new go-to-guy.

Rent Watch Trailer

Get Smart (2008)

After the success of Bruce Almighty, Carrey was courted for a sequel, but his unwillingness to reprise the role prompted the studio to go for a Bruce-less follow-up. Jennifer Aniston also bailed, but director Tom Shadyac returned, along with Morgan Freeman as the Almighty, and Carell’s hapless newsman-turned-Congressman is upgraded to centre-stage, becoming God’s new go-to-guy.

Rent

Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

Carell gets animated to play The Mayor of Whoville in this big screen adaptation of Dr Seuss’ story book, again following the footsteps of a man called Carrey, and reuniting the Bruce Almighty co-stars. The film received largely positive reviews and raked back half of its $85m budget in its first three days.

Rent Watch Trailer

Date Night (2010)

Date Night sees TV comedy superstars collide as Carell teams up with 30 Rock’s Tina Fey, playing a regular married couple whose attempts to spice up their date night results in all sorts of trouble. Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) directs this comedy caper, James Franco guest-stars and Mark Wahlberg lends his rippling talents to the plot’s cat and mouse chase scenes.

Rent Watch Trailer

Jennifer Trevorrow