Drew Carey

Introduction

Drew Allison Carey (born May 23, 1958) is an American comedian, actor, host, writer, and producer best known for The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and as the long-running host of The Price Is Right.

Rising from stand-up comedy and military service, Carey has built a multifaceted career crossing television, improv, game shows, activism, and even sports ownership. His journey illustrates how comedic personality, persistence, and adaptability can sustain a long public presence across changing media landscapes.

Early Life and Family

• Carey was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Lewis Carey and Beulah (Neal) Carey.

• He was the youngest of three sons.

• When he was eight years old, his father died of a brain tumor, a loss that Carey has discussed as profoundly affecting him.

• He grew up in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, attended James Ford Rhodes High School, and played in the school marching band (cornet, trumpet).

• Carey enrolled at Kent State University, where he was part of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. However, academic challenges led to him leaving the university after about three years.

Military Service

Carey joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1980 and served until about 1986, holding the rank of Sergeant (E-5).

His buzz cut and glasses from that era later became components of his public image.

Comedy & Rise to Fame

Stand-up Career

After leaving college, Carey worked various jobs including as a bank teller and waiter, while pursuing comedy.

His first national exposure came via Star Search (1988) and later appearances on The Tonight Show and HBO’s Young Comedians Special.

Television Breakthrough: The Drew Carey Show

In 1995, Carey launched The Drew Carey Show, playing a fictionalized version of himself. The show ran for nine seasons (233 episodes) until 2004.

He also served as a co-creator and executive producer, and occasionally wrote episodes.

While the sitcom had early success, Carey later expressed frustrations about network constraints limiting the edgier material from his stand-up.

Improv & Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Starting in 1998, Carey hosted Whose Line Is It Anyway? (the American version), bringing improv comedy into mainstream U.S. TV audiences.

Later, he also created Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show, a spin on improv and interactive comedy.

Game Show Hosting & Later Career

The Price Is Right

In 2007, Carey succeeded Bob Barker as host of The Price Is Right.

Though initially resistant to replacing Barker, he later embraced the role as part of his career evolution.

Other Projects & Ventures

• Carey hosted Power of 10, a game show that ran from 2007 to 2008.

• He has done film voice work (e.g. Robots in 2005) and cameo roles in various TV shows.

• Carey is also an avid photographer, especially of soccer matches. He has covered U.S. men’s national team games under the pseudonym “Brooks Parkenridge.”

• He is a minority owner of the Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC, which has won multiple MLS Cups.

• Carey has engaged in political and social commentary—especially via the libertarian-leaning Reason.tv project—advocating for issues such as private highways, eminent domain reform, and medical marijuana.

Personal Life & Health

• Carey has never married. He was engaged to Nicole Jaracz (proposal in 2007) but the engagement ended in 2012.

• In 2018, he became engaged to Amie Harwick, a therapist, but they broke off the engagement later that year. Harwick was tragically murdered in 2020; her killer was convicted in 2023.

• Carey has spoken openly about mental health struggles and past suicide attempts, which he discussed in his autobiography Dirty Jokes and Beer.

• In 2001, he underwent a coronary angioplasty following chest pains.

• He has also made significant changes in health and lifestyle, including losing about 80 pounds and making diet/exercise changes.

• He claimed the weight loss helped him reverse his type 2 diabetes.

• Carey is a practicing Buddhist.

Themes, Style & Impact

• Relatability & everyman persona: Carey often plays an average guy, connecting with audiences through humility, self-deprecation, and sincerity.

• Versatility: He straddles comedy, improv, game shows, commentary, photography, and business.

• Risk & resilience: He has publicly addressed his personal struggles—mental health, health crises, grief—and turned them into discussions of recovery and growth.

• Libertarian leanings: His activism in property rights, limited government, and individual freedom shows a philosophical dimension beyond entertainment.

• Longevity in media: Over decades, Carey has adapted to shifts in television and audience tastes, moving from sitcom to improv to game show.

Famous Quotes

Here are some representative quotes attributed to Drew Carey:

• “I got a 106 average in high school—lowest in the history of Delta Tau Delta.” (self-deprecating, from his autobiography)

• “You can’t replace Bob Barker. I don’t compare myself to anybody … It’s only about what you’re doing and supposed to do.” (about taking The Price Is Right role)

• “Once I started losing weight … once I started dropping a couple pant sizes … the results make you not want to stop.” (on his health journey)

• “I have reversed my diabetes — I no longer take medication.” (on outcomes of his lifestyle change)

These reflect his humor, realism, and emphasis on personal transformation.

Lessons from Drew Carey

1. Reinvention is possible — careers can evolve: from small clubs to sitcom to game show to commentary.

2. Authenticity matters — sharing personal struggles builds connection, not weakness.

3. Health can’t be postponed — his transformation underscores the importance of action in midlife.

4. Multidimensional lives thrive — don’t limit yourself to one niche; Carey shows how to bridge interests.

5. Platforms for voice — entertainers can leverage fame into advocacy, commentary, and influence beyond performance.

Conclusion

Drew Carey’s life is more than just jokes and TV. It’s a story of overcoming loss, navigating mental health, building a career across genres, and using visibility to speak on social issues. From Marine reservist to comedy club hopeful to sitcom star to game show staple, he has adapted repeatedly while staying true to a core of humility and persistence.