Carell hosts charity screening of `Get Smart'
BOSTON (AP) -June 20, 2008 The screening was held Thursday night to benefit The Zachary
Carson Brain Tumor Fund, named after a Newton teenager Carell met
on the set of his NBC comedy in February 2007 through the
Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Carell said he has been inspired by Carson and his family.
"It was a great group of people, is a great group of people,
and I just felt very honored to be included in that circle," he
said.
The screening at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute was the second
time Carell has used his celebrity to raise money to fight diffuse
pontine glioma, the type of pediatric cancer that killed Carson.
In June 2007, he helped orchestrate a Boston premiere of his
movie "Evan Almighty" to fund research into the cancer, which
causes an inoperable malignant tumor in the brain stem. Carson died
three months later at the age of 19, after a 27-month fight against
the disease.
Carell said Carson's mother, Roberta, has continued in her quest
to combat cancer.
"His mom is a remarkable woman and so much of his legacy I
think lives through her and the rest of his family," he said.
Tickets for the screening of the TV spy spoof "Get Smart" sold
for $100 apiece. The event also included an auction offering the
chance to have Carell record a voice mail message for the winner
and front row seats at Fenway Park, among other things.
Carell, 44, and his wife, actress Nancy Walls, are Massachusetts
natives with a house in Marshfield. He said it was exciting to be
in the area for the Celtics' NBA championship win.
"Nobody cares about sports in Los Angeles," he said. "I might
be going out of a limb here, but it's much more of a fair-weather
fan mentality."
Carell offered no clues about the next season of "The Office."
"I have no idea," he said. "You know, they're writing
episodes. I'm not even being coy. ... Anything can happen at this
point."
