Steve Carell, award-winning actor, will be Northwestern’s commencement speaker

• Link to: Northwestern Now Story

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The beloved comedian, actor and devoted father Steve Carell will address Northwestern’s Class of 2025 at the University’s 167th annual Commencement at the United Center in Chicago on Sunday, June 15. Carell also will receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts at the ceremony, which will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Whether enlivening audiences with the salve of laughter or carving out space for vulnerability through flawed but striving characters in his dramatic roles, Carell has a gift for amplifying the human condition and putting us more in touch with our own shared humanity. 

“Steve Carell is an absolute treasure, and I am thrilled he will be our commencement speaker,” said President Michael Schill. “Steve is such a versatile actor, who brings humor and humanity to every role, from ‘The Office’ to ‘The Morning Show’ and his recent work on Broadway. I cannot wait to hear him address our Class of 2025.”

“I’m thrilled to be speaking at Northwestern’s commencement this year,” Carell said. “My speech’s theme will be ‘The Importance of Lowering Expectations,’ which for these graduates, should start with my speech.”

Carell is an award-winning actor, writer and producer, globally revered for his memorable work in film, television and theater, including his classic film roles in “Bruce Almighty,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Rob Burgundy,” “Crazy, Stupid Love,” and “Date Night.”

Carell first established himself as a comedian in Chicago, where he was part of the legendary Second City beginning in 1987. His time at Second City overlapped with Stephen Colbert ’86, ’11 H. The two did Dana Carvey’s short-lived sketch comedy show, and in 1999, Carell joined “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” where he served for six years as a correspondent.

In 2004, Carell segued into the lead role of Michael Scott in the critically acclaimed and award-winning NBC mockumentary, “The Office.” This coincided with the release of Carell’s first leading role in a feature film, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” which he co-wrote with director Judd Apatow.  

Since then, Carell has starred in several films, including “Foxcatcher,” for which he earned an Academy Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nomination, and “The Big Short” and “Battle of the Sexes,” for which he earned Golden Globe nominations. 

Other film credits include “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Beautiful Boy,” “Asteroid City,” “Vice,” “Evan Almighty,” “Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who,” “Get Smart” and “The Way, Way Back.”    

On the small screen, Carell was renowned for his two-season run in Apple TV’s critically acclaimed series “The Morning Show,” executive produced by and starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Carell’s nuanced performance earned him a 2020 Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, as well as a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He then reunited with “The Office” showrunner Gregg Daniels to create “Space Force” before starring in and serving as an executive producer on FX’s dramatic thriller series “The Patient,” which garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. 

In 2024, Carell made his Broadway debut at The Lincoln Center Theater in director Lila Neugebauer and playwright Heidi Schreck’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s dark Russian drama, “Uncle Vanya,” for which he was nominated for a Drama League Award. Up next, he can be seen in the upcoming Netflix comedy “The Four Seasons” opposite creator Tina Fey.  

Carell’s daughter, Annie, is a member of the Class of 2023 and a graduate of the School of Communication. His son Johnny, a member of the class of 2026, is a student in the School of Communication.

Northwestern will announce the complete class of honorary degree recipients in the coming days.