Steve Carell believes the world could use more people like Stephen Colbert.
On Sunday, The Office star delivered the commencement address to Northwestern University’s graduating class of 2025, during which he emphasized that “kindness isn’t a weakness — it is a very potent strength.”
“Remember the little things, like being kind and that you’re not alone,” Carell said during his commencement speech, while receiving an honorary doctorate of the arts. “Take care of one another. Remember to laugh when you have the opportunity and to cry when necessary.”
It’s a lesson that the actor put to good use as he referenced a Northwestern University alum that’s also his “dear friend,” the Late Show With Stephen Colbert host.
“I do know a famous, powerful person who is also kind,” Carell said of Colbert. “Stephen is a brilliant, wonderful person. Talented, generous, better than I am in almost every way. If he were here today, he’d probably be giving a better speech. An innovator, an icon, a family man, and friend. He is so wonderful in fact, that he makes me feel terrible about myself and I hate him very very much. Which brings me to my next topic, envy.”
The Four Seasons star encouraged the graduates to harness their insecurities and channel them into something constructive, saying, “Envy is an enemy of kindness and lack of belief in your own gifts. And what are you even envious of? A facade that another human being, say, Stephen Colbert creates for themselves. Turn your jealousy into admiration and use it to fuel your ambition in a positive way.”
“And keep in mind that as badly as you feel about the state of the world, your parents probably feel worse. Use that, take advantage of that,” Carell quipped. “Now is the perfect time to exploit your parents’ guilt and to emotionally blackmail them. They might even let you live in the basement for an extra six months.”
Halfway through his speech, Carell livened things up by leading the audience into a dance break, set to “That’s Not My Name” by The Ting Tings. The actor joined School of Communications E. Patrick Johnson in a shimmy on stage before running off stage and dancing with the crowd of graduates.
“That was as invigorating as it was disturbing,” Carell told the audience after the minute-long break as he tried to catch his breath. “Wow, am I out of shape.”
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Carell has been living true to his words in his own life. The star recently teamed up with Alice’s Kids, a charity that provides financial assistance to children in need, to announce a free prom for hundreds of California students.
In a video posted to the charity’s Instagram page in March, Carell surprised the students of six Southern California schools, telling them that Alice’s Kids will be paying for their entries to the senior dance. The news comes after the Los Angeles area was ravaged by wildfires that destroyed more than 16,000 homes, businesses, and other structures and took the lives of at least 29 people in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and Altadena area. Several school campuses were scorched, upending the lives of students, teachers, and parents.
Alice’s Kids plans to cover the cost of prom for more than 800 students, assuring their chance to attend the annual high school rite of passage. The endeavor will cost about $175,000, as tickets typically range from $100 to $150 each.
Carell closed out the video by telling the teens, “Have fun. Enjoy the prom, and remember… this is Steve Carell. Take it easy, guys.”
Carell’s involvement in the charitable act also serves as a sort of callback to the beloved — if incredibly uncomfortable — season 6 episode of The Office titled “Scott’s Tots.” In it, attention-seeking Dunder Mifflin manager Michael Scott (Carell) pledges to pay the college tuition for a group of underprivileged third-graders. But when those “tots” become high school seniors, Michael must break the news to them that he lacks the funds to actually fulfill his promise.
Thankfully, Michael Scott was nowhere near this endeavor — and Alice’s Kids has these kids covered.
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