Steve Carell (63) Shares That Being a Dad Is the Most Rewarding Part of Life

Steve Carell is known for making people laugh, but the 63-year-old actor says his favorite role has nothing to do with Hollywood. In a recent interview with L’Officiel, he explained that raising his two kids, Annie and John, is the most meaningful thing in his life.

During filming for his new HBO series, Rooster, Carell found himself drawing on real-life emotions as a father. He even gave his daughter Annie a production assistant job on set, which led to a touching on-camera moment.

“I actually got her a job working as a production assistant on the show, and when we were shooting one scene, I accidentally said, ‘I would do anything for Annie,’ instead of saying my character’s daughter’s name,” he recalled.

The crew loved it, and the moment perfectly reflected the genuine feelings he wanted to bring to the scene. Carell says that despite decades of fame, being a dad is far more rewarding than any career milestone.

“Raising children is my favorite part of my life,” he said. “There’s not even a close second—it’s the most satisfying thing I’ve done.” He has always tried to keep his kids out of the public eye, bringing them along to only a few special events to give them a normal upbringing.

Even as his children grew into young adults, they remained connected to his work. At the 2022 premiere of Minions: The Rise of Gru, he shared that they were enthusiastic about attending.

“I put it out to them like, ‘Well, the premiere is this week, do you want to go?’ And they were all over it, like not even a hesitation,” he said. He added that the films have become nostalgic for the family, showing how closely intertwined his work and family life have been.

Beyond parenting, Carell is keeping busy professionally. He continues to act in both comedic and dramatic roles, and he is executive producing a new animated series for Netflix, expected to be announced later this year.

He balances these projects with his family life, keeping both worlds separate but meaningful. “It’s always just been a job,” he explained. “I’ve tried not to let it define me too much. But mostly, I just didn’t want it to be weird for my kids.”

His dedication to remaining authentic while raising a family and working on a wide variety of roles is part of what makes him such a respected figure in Hollywood today. Carell’s fans can expect to see more of him this year, but he insists that no role—no matter how big—compares to being a dad.