(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Steve Carell says mocking innocent people to make people laugh makes him feel dirty.

Steve is one of the most successful stars of US comedy, having made his name on American spoof news programme The Daily Show in 1999. The actor admits the six years he spent on the comedy show were the best, although he says he sometimes felt guilty when he and his co-stars teased real people for laughs.

The star felt particularly bad about one segment where he met a group of Star Trek fans who conversed in the made-up language of Klingon, spoken by the fictional race in the science-fiction entertainment franchise.

"It was much meaner early on," he told British newspaper The Guardian.

I did a piece about a convention of Klingon-speakers. We went down to basically make fun of them, but they were without doubt one of the kindest and warmest groups of people I'd ever met. I thought, Who are we to judge what makes these people happy? It's a dirty feeling, to go out and mock people who really aren't hurting anyone."

Nowadays the 48-year-old actor is better known for his portrayal of boss-from-hell Michael Scott in the hit American remake of British funnyman Ricky Gervais UK television comedy The Office, about life in a dreary bureau.

Steve only has 11 more episodes to shoot for the seventh season, and he has announced that after that he will retire from the programme, which he has mixed emotions about. Although hes excited about new ventures, the star will miss making the comedy a great deal.

"Leaving the show will be bittersweet. I've thought a lot about that last episode and how sad it'll be, he lamented. (C) Cover Media