Steve Carell left "The Office" after Season 7 primarily because his contract had ended, and he decided to move on to other opportunities. Here's a more detailed breakdown: 1. **End of Contract:** Steve Carell's contract with "The Office" was initially for seven seasons. As the end of his contract approached, he indicated in various interviews that he might be ready to leave the show. He confirmed that Season 7 would be his last during a 2010 interview with a BBC radio program. 2. **Pursuing Other Projects:** At the time of his departure, Carell's film career was on the rise, with successes like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Little Miss Sunshine," and "Date Night." Leaving the show gave him the opportunity to explore varied and more complex roles in both comedy and drama, allowing him to expand his range as an actor. 3. **Focus on Family:** Carell mentioned wanting to spend more time with his family as one of the reasons for his departure. The demanding schedule of a television series, especially one filmed in Los Angeles while his family was based elsewhere, played a role in his decision. 4. **Character Arc Completion:** Carell felt that his character, Michael Scott, had grown significantly over the course of the series and that it would make sense narratively for him to move on. By the end of Season 7, Michael Scott had developed in many ways, having found love and ready to start a new chapter of his life away from the office. It's worth noting that there was speculation at the time that NBC could have negotiated to keep Carell on the show, but according to a book by Andy Greene called "The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s," the network did not step in to secure Carell for more seasons. This indicated a possible miscommunication or a lack of action on NBC's part to retain him, despite Carell being open to discussing an extension under the right circumstances. "The Office" continued for two more seasons after Carell's departure, with various characters stepping in to fill the managerial void left by Michael Scott, before concluding with its ninth season. Carell made a guest appearance in the series finale, providing a sense of closure for fans of Michael Scott.