Steve Carell: Icons & Outliers

What comes to mind when you think of Steve Carell? Is he a comedic actor, or something more? Through a multitude of performances, Carell has proven that he will not be defined by past roles. Rather, he is an amalgam of nuanced collective decisions and experiences. Throughout the mid-2000s, audiences came to know him as a wacky comedic force to be reckoned with. As Michael Scott in The Office, he demonstrated impeccable comedic timing and a knack for improvisational wordplay. On the big screen, from The 40-Year-Old Virgin to Anchorman, Carell made a name for himself playing awkward characters with a painful lack of self-awareness. But that’s not all he’s about. Upon leaving The Office in 2012, Carell initiated a remarkable career transition by taking on more challenging roles, like his performances in Foxcatcher and The Big Short. While he may be most well-known for his turns in comedies, our latest installment of Icons & Outliers takes a look at why it would be a shame to consider Steve Carell as anything but one of cinema’s most fascinating and unpredictable outliers.

In Robert Zemeckis’s upcoming drama, “Welcome to Marwen,” Carell stars as Mark Hogancamp, a man who builds an entire town out of miniature figurines as a way to cope with and recover from a brutal physical assault. In anticipation, be sure to watch “Marwencol,” a documentary about Hogancamp, streaming now on Fandor!

Enjoyed this installment of “Icons & Outliers?” Check out our previous looks at other iconic outliers, like Sandra Bullock and Jim Carrey. And for more on actors with fascinating career trajectories, kick back with our videos about Matthew McConaughey, Robert Pattinson, Ellen Page, and Adam Sandler.

[Jared_Wignall]

Carell is such a diverse actor. He’s really a force to be reckon with in the roles he takes on. I’m probably in the minority when I say I wanted to see him win the Academy Award for Best Actor for Foxcatcher. To me he really inhabited the role of John du Pont and I didn’t see him in the role. I just saw du Pont and I gotta say, I wasn’t expecting that when I saw the film for the first time when it first came out. Great performance in Foxcatcher as well as Little Miss Sunshine, The Big Short, The Way, Way Back, The Office and so many other films and shows.

[jeebs]

The Way, way back is so good

One of my most favorite movies
Steve is such a great actor

[CoolMovieNerdPanda]

Love his serious movies. Can't wait for Welcome to Marwen and Beautiful Boy.

[omarsabih]

When is Threat Level: Midnight coming out?

[Yora]

The Big Short is amazing. Most people have no idea what any of the words mean that are spoken, so instead he is explaining everything with his face.

[PicturesJester]

The most under appretiated actor of all time by far

[thetheoryofsurgery]

Also the two new films he is staring in, Welcome to Marwen and Beautiful Boy are bound to be amazing. You can just tell.

[dgtlbeekeeper]

you have been doing all my favorite actors recently! stop making me love them even more

[oliviamelton]

the fact that i forgot it was steve in beautiful boy, and that i could see past the infamous laugh of michael scott, that’s where the talents at...

[crazyinstincts]

I like how you explain about these actors in-depth and that makes me want to watch all of their movies.

[giorgospsixramis]

i really wish this videos where longer

[MinaF]

Not even gonna mention little miss sunshine? Guess it’s not as macho and obviously oscarbaitily dramatic

[oksurezach]

You should GUSH about Emma Stone. I think there is enough interesting work in her career that I think you could discuss. Like how well she uses her eyes, and how she is really good at choosing rolls that push her while also REALLY showcasing her talents.

[ImAProudSteelersFan]

He should've been submitted as Best Supporting Actor for Foxcatcher. Surely JK Simmons wouldn't have swept awards seasons and they'd be an actually race going on.

[sapphiresushi]

Wait I’m confused about Fox Catcher. Can someone explain that to me?

[catsrule]

2:05 is he wearing makeup or something, cuz he looks kinda strange

[realthug]

Yes Steve carell and emma watson all changed themselves but that harry potter guy still gives me harry potter vibes in whichever movie he acts.