Steve Carell Leaving ‘The Office’ in 2011

Actor Steve Carrell attends the after party for the premiere of 'Despicable Me' during the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival at the Festival Village Event Deck on June 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Actor Steve Carell, announced that he will leave NBC’s professional satire The Office in 2011.

The next season of The Office will be the final era of Carell’s comedic character Michael Scott.

Even though the show will change drastically without one of its mainstays, NBC said The Office will carry on without him.  

“I want to fulfill my contract. When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go,” Carell told E!

Carell told reporters from BBC News earlier in the year that he would step away from the show temporarily. The actor did not publicly state that he would not come back to The Office until he spoke with Kristina Guerrero from E!

“It doesn’t certainly mean the end of the show. I think it’s just a dynamic change to the show, which could be a good thing, actually. Add some new life and some new energy,” Carell said.

Before appearing on The Office, Carell was known for his work with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

The actor has also appeared in various feature films including 2005’s The 40 Year Old Virgin and Bruce Almighty in 2003. He recently lent his voice to the animated film Despicable Me and starred alongside Tina Fey in Date Night.