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50 free Steve Carell trivia questions with answers — entertainment quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
Steve Carell was a history major and hockey goalie who played the fife in a Revolutionary War reenactment group, quit the post office after seven months for being too slow, and spent years at Second City with Stephen Colbert as his understudy. A seven-episode sketch show and six years on The Daily Show later, he was Brick Tamland, then the 40-Year-Old Virgin, then Michael Scott. This quiz runs through all of it: Sapphire Steve the college DJ, the Brown's Chicken commercial, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, the Office audition he did after watching half the British pilot, the two episodes he wrote, the $175,000 paychecks, Threat Level: Midnight, Gru, John du Pont, Mark Baum, Bobby Riggs, Donald Rumsfeld, Mitch Kessler, The Patient, his Broadway Uncle Vanya and the general store he bought in Marshfield. Fifty questions with four options each and a short explanation after every answer. Play on your phone or print it for a sitcom-night quiz.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Steve Carell was born in which Massachusetts town?
Concord
He was born on August 16, 1962, to a mechanical engineer and a psychiatric nurse.
Q 02Carell's father's surname was originally what before being changed in the 1950s?
Caroselli
His father was of Italian and German descent; his mother was of Polish ancestry.
Q 03As a teenager Carell played which instrument with a historical reenactment group?
Fife
The group portrayed the 10th Regiment of Foot and sparked his interest in history.
Q 04Carell earned a degree in which subject from Denison University in 1984?
History
He credited his reenactment hobby with sparking the interest.
Q 05At Denison, Carell was a goalie on the school's team in which sport?
Ice hockey
He had played both ice hockey and lacrosse in high school.
Q 06What was Carell's on-air name as a college radio DJ at WDUB?
Sapphire Steve
He also belonged to the improv troupe Burpee's Seedy Theatrical Company.
Q 07Carell quit which job after seven months because his boss said he was too slow?
Mail carrier
He worked for the USPS in Littleton, Massachusetts.
Q 08Carell's 1989 TV commercial was for which restaurant chain?
Brown's Chicken
Before that he toured with a children's theater company.
Q 09Who served as Carell's understudy at Chicago's famous improv troupe in 1991?
Stephen Colbert
The pair later voiced The Ambiguously Gay Duo and did 'Even Stevphen' together.
Q 10Carell made his film debut in a minor role in which 1991 film?
Curly Sue
The John Hughes film came years before his sketch-comedy break.
Q 11Carell was a cast member of which short-lived 1996 ABC sketch series?
The Dana Carvey Show
It lasted only seven episodes but has been credited with forging his career.
Q 12Carell was a correspondent on The Daily Show during which years?
1999–2005
His segments included 'Even Stevphen' and 'Produce Pete'.
Q 13Carell played smug newscaster Evan Baxter in which 2003 Jim Carrey film?
Bruce Almighty
He reprised the role as the lead in Evan Almighty, where Evan is a congressman.
Q 21Which of these Office episodes did Carell write himself?
Casino Night
He won a Writers Guild Award for it and also wrote 'Survivor Man'.
Q 22In 'Goodbye, Michael', Michael Scott flies to which state to join Holly Flax?
Colorado
His final line, spoken to Pam, is never heard.
Q 23Which actor was offered Michael Scott first but declined, not wanting to move to America?
Ricky Gervais
Gervais had played David Brent in the British original.
Q 24How much of the British pilot had Carell watched before auditioning for The Office?
Q 14What job does Carell's character Brick Tamland hold in Anchorman?
Weatherman
Judd Apatow was so struck by the role that he approached Carell to make a film together.
Q 15Carell co-wrote The 40-Year-Old Virgin with which producer-director?
Judd Apatow
The film made $109 million domestically and established him as a leading man.
Q 16Which two creators made the original British version of The Office?
Gervais and Merchant
Greg Daniels developed the NBC adaptation.
Q 17Michael Scott manages the Dunder Mifflin branch in which Pennsylvania city?
Scranton
The paper company is the setting for the mockumentary-style series.
Q 18Why did NBC renew The Office after its poorly rated first season?
Hype around Carell's next film
The show then became a huge hit and won Carell a Golden Globe in 2006.
Q 19How many consecutive lead-actor Emmy nominations did Carell earn for The Office?
Six
He was nominated every year from 2006 to 2011 but never won.
Q 20Carell earned roughly how much per episode in season three of The Office?
$175,000
It was twice his salary for the first two seasons.
About half
He stopped for fear of copying Gervais's characterisation.
Q 25Which actor, who auditioned for Michael Scott, later played Todd Packer?
David Koechner
Bob Odenkirk also auditioned; Martin Short and Hank Azaria were reportedly interested.
Q 26What is the title of Michael Scott's unfinished homemade action movie?
Threat Level: Midnight
The staff find the script and give it a table reading.
Q 27Where did Michael Scott buy his 'World's Best Boss' mug?
Spencer Gifts
His other passions include 'fun jeans' and Chrysler automobiles.
Q 28Who plays Holly Flax, the HR rep Michael Scott eventually marries?
Amy Ryan
Holly replaced Toby in HR and shared Michael's sense of humour.
Q 29Which state governor jokingly appointed Michael Scott Director of Paper Distribution?
John Hickenlooper
The press release followed the episode 'Garage Sale'.
Q 30Carell played Uncle Arthur in the 2005 film of which classic sitcom?
Bewitched
He imitated the camp mannerisms of Paul Lynde's original.