Steve Carell Worked as Mailman & Answered Letters to Santa - Now He Supports Those in Need & Took Care of 2 Kids

• Before becoming a famous actor, Steve Carell once worked as a rural mailman.
• Every December, the post office would be filled with letters to Santa from kids. Steve answered those letters to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in these children.
• When he got his big break, he continued to give back to those in need and was able to provide for his family well.

Steve Carell, best known for his work on "The Office," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," and the "Despicable Me" franchise, was born to a simple family background on August 16, 1962. He was born at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, where he continued to live with his family growing up.

Throughout his early life, his dad Edwin A. Carell worked as an electrical engineer while his mom Harriet Koch worked as a psychiatric nurse. It wasn't until later in his life that he decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

While Steve was in school, he didn't show interest in acting. Instead, Steve spent much of his time playing sports like hockey and lacrosse, even continuing as a hockey player when he attended college. He studied at Denison University in Ohio, where he majored in history.

At one point in his life, Steve worked as a rural mailman in Littleton, Massachusetts, where he went above and beyond what was asked of him. His stint as a mailman lasted seven months at a time when there was still no internet, and a lot of heavy catalogs were being delivered.

Steve would deliver the mail through his own Totoya Corona, driving with his left hand and left foot on the accelerator and brakes while his right hand threw the mail out through his passenger side window. "I was a bad mail carrier," he humorously admitted.

Despite this, during the Christmas season, he made sure to make an effort when it came to the children. The post office would be filled with little kids who'd address their letters to Santa, and there was a place at the post office where staff would respond to those. Recalling the whole ordeal, he said:

"I'd get little kids who'd address letters to Santa, and there was a special place at the post office that they responded to."

However, Steve went the extra mile as a mail carrier, and he'd write a little hand-written note that read, 'Your letter to Santa Claus has been picked up by [a] special reindeer courier,' and he'd leave it inside the mailbox.

He shared that he imagined himself as a kid and said he would've loved to have that acknowledgment that his letter was on the way to Santa Claus. While it was a touching thing for many people, Steve admits how it slowed down his work, taking until 9 or 10 in the evening to deliver mail because of this additional process.

Steve's humble beginnings paved the way for his stellar acting career. His big break came through "SNL" and "The Daily Show," a satiric news program hosted by John Stewart.

In "The Daily Show, " people saw Steve's natural ability to make people laugh. He played a clueless correspondent and became popular for the segment "Even Stephven," where he debated castmate Stephen Colbert.

He eventually left the show and got more projects through movies like "Bruce Almighty," "Anchorman," and "Evan Almighty." However, after being cast in "The Office," his career started to skyrocket.

The British sitcom revolved around the employees at a branch of the paper company Dunder Mifflin. Steve earned several Emmy Award nominations for his role, and in 2006, he won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Michael Scott.

The actor also won a Writers Guild of America Award for writing an episode on "The Office," which he titled "Casino Night." He received several other nominations for his role until he left the series in 2011.

Years later, in 2015, he received an Oscar nomination for "Foxcatcher" and has earned nominations from the Emmys., the BAFTAs, and the SAG Awards. His net worth is currently pegged at $80 million, which he got from the many hit movies and TV shows he's been a part of.

His time on "The Office" was one of the biggest boosters to his net worth, as he was paid $87,000 per episode in seasons one and two, $175,000 per episode in season 3, and at its peak, $300,000 per episode. He also earned additional production fees as a producer, writer, and director and continues to make money on syndication deals.

When it comes to his movies, Steve has also made quite a fortune. While he only made $50,000 on "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," he earned $12 million on "Date Night," $12.5 million on "Dinner for Schmucks," and $15 million for Crazy Stupid Love.

In addition, his efforts on the child-favorite "Despicable Me" franchise had him earn about $15 to 20 million per movie for the succeeding movies after the first film's success. Of all franchise films, "Minions" was the most successful, making over a billion dollars worldwide.

Although most of his projects are comedic, he's shown his dramatic abilities in movies like "Foxcatcher," "Beautiful Boy," "The Patient," "The Big Short," and "The Morning Show." He's also made quite a mark behind the camera as a producer, writer, and director.

Helping Those in Need

While one can expect Steve to splurge after wracking up such a fortune, he's remained thrifty through the years. In fact, he admits he shops at stores like J. Crew when he wants to "go upscale." The actor doesn't see a need to "overdo" it, which is why he chooses to live a simple lifestyle.

While Steve chooses not to splurge on things, he's not greedy regarding his money. In fact, despite being a high-paid actor, he never forgot to give back to those who are struggling in life.

The actor has supported the "Stand Up To Cancer" foundation for years and has participated in TV specials and filmed commercials for their cause. The foundation helps accelerate cancer research in hopes of finding new treatments and therapies and getting them to patients swiftly to help save as many lives as possible.

Aside from "Stand Up To Cancer," Steve also actively supports the "He for She" movement, which is all about gender equality. During one Oscars night, he wore cufflinks with the "He for She" logo, which caused fellow star Emma Watson to pen a lengthy open letter to him, thanking him for his support.

Steve also supported The Writer's Strike, wherein writers in Hollywood went on strike for not being paid for digital content. He used his star power on "The Office" to help out by refusing to show up to work until the strike was over. Steve knew he would not be fired from the show, and production was ultimately halted until network executives took notice of the strike and did something about it.

The comedian was also among many celebrities who pledged bail money to the Black Lives Matter movement. He matched donations made to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which helped release George Floyd protesters from jail.

People were outraged and took to the streets to demand justice for the death of Floyd, who was killed while being arrested in Minnesota. He joined the extensive list of celebrities who pledged money, joining the likes of Chrissy Teigen, Seth Rogen, and Ben Schwartz.

Last but not least, in true Steve Carell fashion, he agreed to join a charity auction, where one of the prizes was to win a dinner for ten with yours truly. The actor showed up undercover and outbid everyone at $31,000. So, the charity got such a huge donation, and Steve no longer needed to hang out with ten strangers at a planned dinner. What a win for both ends!

Focusing on His Family

Steve never lost sight of his priorities throughout his career and continued to live a simple life. At the center of his work is his family, and he never let the glitz and glamour of Hollywood blind him from knowing what he needs.

While many celebrities have assistants, Steve doesn't have any. While he admitted it might be helpful, he doesn't see the need for it. "I just feel I can get my own dry cleaning. I'm good with taking my own car to get it washed," he stated as an example.

What matters most to the Hollywood actor is his wife and two kids. He once admitted that his "happy place" was home and family and that his wife was his "protector."

[Steve] knew that at the end of his life, he wouldn't be cherishing the projects he made but his family and all the time they spent together. So, he took a step back to reclaim his life and live it according to his own terms.

Recalling the time he married his wife in Massachusetts, he remembered how hot it was and how much he was sweating. However, when his wife started walking down the aisle towards him, he immediately stopped sweating after seeing her and knowing she always had his back.

He added: "When I saw her coming down the aisle, I thought, 'I'm so much more powerful now that she is a part of my world.'" His steadfast love for his wife has continued to grow through the years, and he achieved so much in his career thanks to her support and guidance behind the scenes.

In the same way he values his relationship with his wife, he also loves his children. When he left his role as Michael Scott on "The Office," he shared how he wanted to take a step back to spend time with his growing children, showing how much of a family man he was. He said:

"I just wanted to step back from it a little bit and spend a little bit more time with my kids who are still young, and enjoy them while I can. They're growing up really fast, though I hate to use that cliche. [But] that's the real heart of my reasoning."

Although he never lost time with his children while shooting "The Office," it always felt "so scheduled." Steve also reached a point where his career was getting in the way of his family life, which bothered him.

He knew that at the end of his life, he wouldn't be cherishing the projects he made but his family and all the time they spent together. So, he took a step back to reclaim his life and live it according to his own terms.

Nowadays, Steve, his wife Nancy, and their children Elisabeth Anne and John live together in a vast 17,000-square-foot property in North Hollywood despite having another home in Massachusetts. Their Los Angeles home was rebuilt to fit the Carell family's lifestyle and features five bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

Their home, which features blue cedar siding and gable roofs, has a large front garden, a curved driveway for their cars, and a backyard with a gorgeous pool and a tennis court. The property is estimated to be worth $19 million.

During the summer, the Carells jet off to Massachusetts, where they stay on their own property in the area. Aside from taking some time off from the busy Los Angeles life, Steve often visits family members and his general store in Marshfield Hills.

According to sources, the actor bought a general store back in 2008 after finding out the owners wanted to close it down. Steve believed the store was a great part of the community and worth preserving, so he purchased it to save it from closing. Since then, he has had his sister-in-law run the business.

Although he doesn't have anything to do with the general store, he usually stops by when he's in town with his family to get a cup of coffee, among other things. Fans have spotted him there through the years, and it's a regular sight to see him there for locals of the community.