Paul Rudd warned Steve Carell away from The Office Steve Carell's friend Paul Rudd urged him not to audition for The Office. 25 March 2026 Paul Rudd urged Steve Carell not to audition for The Office. Steve Carell in The Office The 63-year-old actor played Michael Scott in the US reboot of the sitcom from 2005 to 2011 before making a surprise cameo in the 2013 finale, but he has admitted his friend advised him against the project because he thought remaking the British show was a bad idea.