Actor and former Second City cast member Steve Carell will speak at Northwestern University’s 2025 commencement. Along with addressing Northwestern’s class of 2025, he will receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts at the ceremony at the United Center, according to an announcement Tuesday by the university.
Carell, known for his years on the NBC sitcom “The Office” as well as a deep list of both comedy and drama films, attended Denison University in Ohio, earning a bachelor’s degree in history in 1984 before coming to Chicago to perform at Second City from 1991 to 1994.
“I’m thrilled to be speaking at Northwestern’s commencement this year,” Carell said in a statement. “My speech’s theme will be ‘The Importance of Lowering Expectations,’ which for these graduates, should start with my speech.”
His daughter, Annie Carell, graduated from Northwestern in 2023, and son Johnny Carell is a member of the class of 2026.
Northwestern University’s 167th annual Commencement begins at 10:30 a.m. June 15 and will be livestreamed at www.northwestern.edu
