Steve Carell’s Commencement Speech at Northwestern University Turned Into a Dance Party

Steve Carell addressed the graduating class of Northwestern University on June 15, and his speech was filled with humor, good advice, and a rousing dance party. “The Office” star used his time at the podium to emphasize the importance of kindness, telling students, “kindness isn’t a weakness — it is a very potent strength.” 

Carell, who received an honorary doctorate degree from the university, went on to share a compassionate message, saying, “Take care of one another. Remember to laugh when you have the opportunity and to cry when necessary.”

The actor kept the mood light, even when referencing larger issues. “…keep in mind that as badly as you feel about the state of the world, your parents probably feel worse,” he said, telling students to take advantage of that fact. “They might even let you live in the basement for an extra six months,” Carell joked.

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Time for a Dance Break

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In keeping with the upbeat theme of Carell’s speech, an impromptu dance party broke out midway through, with the actor leading faculty members and the audience in a freestyle dance break to the tune of “That’s Not My Name” by The Ting Tings. At one point Carell ran into the crowd to bust a move with the graduating class.

The dancing lasted about a minute, with Carell and the Dean of School of Communications E. Patrick Johnson working in a bit of choreo, which had the crowd going wild. After returning to the podium, Carell joked, “That was as invigorating as it was disturbing.” He took a moment to catch his breath, noting, “Wow, am I out of shape.”

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Steve Carell Referenced a Famous Friend in His Speech

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During a portion of his address, Steve Carell spoke about his close pal and Northwestern alum Stephen Colbert. “Stephen is a brilliant, wonderful person. Talented, generous, better than I am in almost every way,” Carell said. 

He joked that Colbert would probably give a better speech and said, “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.”

“Envy is an enemy of kindness and lack of belief in your own gifts. And what are you even envious of?” asked “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” actor. “A facade that another human being, say, Stephen Colbert creates for themselves,” he quipped, urging the graduating students to let their envy and insecurities fuel their own ambitions.

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