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Thanks to his roles in comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Anchorman, Steve Carell is a household name. Still, many fans know and love Carell’s role as Michael Scott from The Office.

Shockingly, Carell never received an Emmy Award for his role in the NBC comedy series. In honor of the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 19, we’re highlighting the many times Carell was nominated for his role on The Office and the reasons the actor was snubbed of an Emmy win.

Steve Carell, B.J. Novak, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson showcasing the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for 'The Office'
Steve Carell, B.J. Novak, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson | L. Cohen/WireImage

Steve Carell’s history of Emmy snubs 

Michael Scott is arguably one of Carell’s most memorable characters. As one of the most ignorant human beings, the fictional boss made for some uncomfortable moments on The Office. But those moments are partly what made the show so appealing. The show continues to appeal to an entirely new generation of fans today, thanks to the cringe-worthy comedy in the series. 

Carell was up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series every year at the Emmy Awards from 2006 until 2011. But each year, another actor beat Carell in the category, including the inspiration behind the character Michael Scott, Ricky Gervais. 

Why Steve Carell doesn’t have any Emmys for ‘The Office’ 

When it comes to Carell’s Emmy snubs, there are only theories about why he never received an award for his role in The Office. Likely, it’s due to the actors he was up against in the years he was nominated. 

For instance, in 2006, Carell lost to Tony Shalhoub from “Monk” for what IndieWire refers to as the academy’s “lengthy and inexplicable love affair with USA Network’s comedy.” Carell lost to Gervais, another academy favorite, in 2007. That trend continued with Jim Parson’s wins for The Big Bang Theory — the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences allegedly loves Parsons.

In other years, Carell’s performance was bested by Alec Baldwin in “30 Rock,” a role that rivals Michael Scott. Whether Carell’s snubs are truly because of who he was up against or because of his box-office star status is unclear, but we feel the actor deserved recognition for doing the impossible — creating a role so beloved and yet hard to watch at the same time.

Has Steve Carell ever won an Emmy?

To date, Carell has not won an Emmy Award. Outside of his Office nominations, Carell was up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for The Morning Show in 2020. He lost to Jeremy Strong for his role in Succession. 

‘The Office’ Emmy wins 

The academy hasn’t recognized Carell with an Emmy, but the show has taken home the win for the following categories:

  • Comedy Series in 2006
  • Writing for a Comedy Series in 2007
  • Directing for a Comedy Series in 2009
  • Single-camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series in 2007 and 2013
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‘The Office’ Fan Theory: The Cast Makes Growing up Less Scary

In total, The Office has been nominated for 42 Emmys from 2006 through 2013. Plus, outside of Carell’s nominations, The Office was up for: 

  • Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-hour) in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013
  • Comedy Series in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011
  • Writing for a Comedy Series in 2006 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011
  • Picture Editing for a Comedy Series (Single Or Multi-Camera) in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
  • Casting for a Comedy Series in 2009
  • Directing for a Comedy Series in 2007, 2008, and 2009
  • Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2007, 2008, and 2009
  • Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007

Watch the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards Sept. 19 on CBS. 

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