Steve Carell: Massachusetts Radio Star Before Hollywood Fame

Steve Carell is a well-loved comedian, and his humor knows no boundaries. Fans across the globe appreciate his wit and creativity. But for those in New England, there’s a special pride in claiming him as one of their own. Steve Carell was born and raised in Concord, Massachusetts, according to his IMDb page.

Many people recognize Steve from his iconic role as Michael Scott on the hit television show The Office. His memorable lines and quirky antics on the show have made their mark on pop culture (“That’s what she said,” anyone?). Others may know him as Brick Tamland from the Anchorman movies, a character who humorously admitted to killing a man with a trident. Then, there are those who might be surprised to discover that Steve owns a little piece of New England—a store called Marshfield Hills General Store. The store ownership is a lesser-known fact but true nonetheless.

Before his rise to fame in movies and TV, Steve Carell started his journey in the world of radio. He attended college at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where he graduated in 1984. While at Denison, Steve dabbled in radio at his college station, 91.1 WDUB, which is now known as Doobie Radio.

Steve’s stint in radio may have been brief, but it gave birth to one of his most memorable personas: Sapphire Steve Carell. This DJ name is now a source of humor for Steve and others who look back fondly on those days. His time as Sapphire Steve has even inspired a couple of staff members at BBC Radio 2 in London to create a jingle in his honor.

The cherry on top of this story? Steve made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he discussed his days as Sapphire Steve. It was during this segment that the very person who trained him at the radio station realized that they had trained Steve Carell himself, according to an article in Denison Magazine.