There's a Good Chance You Saw Nancy Carell on TV Long Before Her Husband, Steve

5 years ago

Sad but true fact: Hollywood marriages rarely last. However, there are a few couples who have managed to beat the odds, and one of those rock-solid duos is Steve and Nancy Carell. The two Massachusetts natives have been married for nearly a quarter of a century, having tied the knot in August 1995, and together they have two children, Annie and John. However, if you think Nancy’s biggest claim is being The Office star’s wife, then you’re terribly mistaken. Nancy Carell (née Walls) is an actor, comedian, and writer with an incredibly impressive résumé, and here are just a few facts you should probably know about the funny lady.

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She Was a Member of an Improv Troupe in College

While Nancy was a student at Boston College (where she graduated in 1988), she was a member of the improvisational troupe “My Mother’s Fleabag.” Another notable alum of the comedy troupe: Amy Poehler, who graduated from BC in 1993.

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She Got Her Start in Comedy at The Second City in Chicago

After graduating from college, Nancy started taking classes at The Second City Theater in Chicago. It was there that she met her future husband, who was her teacher in an improvisation class. During a 2015 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Steve explained that – when Nancy wasn’t taking classes – she worked at a bar across the street from the theater, and he often stopped in to talk to her (though it took weeks of flirting before Nancy finally asked him out).

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She Was on Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show

Like many other Second City alums, Nancy joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1995 for its 21st season, where she was best known for impersonating CNN anchor Bobbie Battista. After her stint on SNL, she served as a recurring correspondent on The Daily Show from 1999 to 2002 alongside her hubby. Later, she made a cameo appearance on SNL in 2008 when Steve hosted, as well as on The Daily Show in 2015 for host Jon Stewart‘s last episode.

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She Cocreated the TBS Comedy Series Angie Tribeca

Alongside her husband, Nancy created and executive produced the TBS parody series Angie Tribeca, which stars Rashida Jones and debuted in 2016. Nancy even had a recurring role on the show as Mayor Perry’s wife, Katy Perry. The comedy ran for four seasons before concluding in 2018.