Can Carell leave Michael Scott at 'The Office'?

As Michael Scott, the inept boss of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch on “The Office,” Steve Carell has perfected the art of clueless corporate management.
It’s an iconic role that has made Carell richer as a performer, and rich, period. He earns $300,000 per episode, and recently notched his fourth consecutive Emmy nod for lead actor in a comedy. But it’s time for Carell to prepare his exit interview. He recently announced he’s leaving the acclaimed sitcom at the end of the upcoming seventh season to focus on his booming movie career.
The actor, fresh off the spring success “Date Night” with Tina Fey, just scored another with his voice work in “Despicable Me.” On July 30, he re-teams with his "40-Year-Old Virgin" co-star Paul Rudd for the comedy “Dinner for Schmucks.” But when he finally clocks out of “The Office,” will Carell be able to leave Michael Scott behind?
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Despite his movie success, few actors are as closely identified with a character as Carell is with his bumbling TV alter ego. Part of the connection comes from the fact that Michael Scott’s idiosyncrasies and awkward arrogance inform so many of Carell’s roles.
In “Despicable Me,” he voices a hapless villain, Gru, who can’t get his minions to respect him. In “Dinner for Schmucks,” he plays the off-kilter nerd who’s the target for a mean-spirited dinner invitation that inspires the film's title.
From “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” through “Get Smart” and “Evan Almighty,” a definite pattern emerges in terms of recurring character traits for Carell's roles. Bumbling, hapless, desperately seeking acceptance are all part of Carell’s onscreen oeuvre.
“He excels at playing the awkward, hapless hero. You’re not always sure if you’re supposed to like him, but you end up liking him anyway,” said Entertainment Weekly senior writer Dave Karger.