Steve Carell knows the internet has embraced his zaddy status. Apparently, his wife, Nancy Carell, has no problem with the extra attention. The actor joked about the label at the 2026 Emmys. However, his comments quickly turned into a sweet tribute to his wife and their 31-year marriage.
Steve Carell jokes about his “zaddy” status and reveals how wife Nancy Carell handles the attention after 31 years of marriage
During E!’s Emmys interview, Steve Carell laughed when Justin Sylvester asked about his online zaddy status. “It’s been fantastic,” he joked. In fact, Steve Carell claimed he had practically encouraged the label himself.
When the conversation turned to Nancy, the actor made it clear that his wife does not take the attention too seriously. “She knows the drill with me,” Steve Carell said. “I’m old news. It’s fine.”
He then pointed to their long marriage. The couple marked 31 years together this year after marrying in 1995. Steve Carell also said they still “get along great.” More importantly, he believes choosing the right wife came down partly to luck.
“You get lucky,” he said.
Their relationship goes back to Chicago’s Second City, where Carell taught improv and Nancy took his class. The pair later worked together on several projects.
Nancy also appeared on The Office as Carol Stills, one of Michael Scott’s girlfriends. The couple’s relationship history dates back to Chicago’s Second City, where Carell taught improv, and Nancy took his class before they eventually married.
Meanwhile, Steve Carell attended the Emmys as a nominee for Rooster. He competed for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, though Matthew Rhys ultimately won. His nomination marked another major career moment.
Still, the actor seemed more amused by his viral zaddy status than concerned about losing.
He has also praised Nancy’s looks before. In an earlier E! interview, Steve Carell called his wife a “babe” and joked that he simply tries to keep up with her.
After three decades together, that strategy appears to be working.
