Drew Carey

Drew Carey Biography

Carey's early life experiences in Cleveland, along with his time in the military, played a role in shaping his perspective and comedic style. Over the years, he has become a well-known comedian, actor, and television host, with significant accomplishments, such as hosting The Price Is Right, The Drew Carey Show, and being the host of the American version of the improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Learn how he got his start in comedy and how he used his unique blend of observational humor and wit to captivate audiences worldwide below in his full biography.

Where Did Drew Carey Grow Up?

Drew Allison Carey was born on May 23, 1958, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Raised in a working-class family, Carey had a modest upbringing. His father worked as a draftsman, and his mother was a homemaker. He is the third and youngest of three brothers.

Carey's father passed away from a brain tumor in 1966. In his book "Dirty Jokes and Beer," he recalls struggling with the emotional toll of his father's death. Unfortunately, his mother, who juggled multiple jobs to sustain the family, didn't have time or money to get him therapy. He became very withdrawn and depressed as a result.

Drew Carey attended Rhodes High School, and upon graduating in 1975, he started at Kent State University. Carey had issues focusing, struggled to choose a major, and was still battling ongoing depression.

By his junior year, he had nearly been expelled twice and attempted suicide at least once. Carey eventually dropped out of college; his depression deepened, leading to another suicide attempt in his early 20s.

Recognizing the need to address his emotional struggles, Carey returned to Cleveland with the support of his brother Roger and immersed himself in self-help books. He then joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve, where he served for six years. (1991-1997).

During his time in the Marine Reserves, he adopted the distinctive appearance we all know today. Yes, his military buzz cut and black wide-rim glasses became his trademark look before his comedy days.

His journey into the world of comedy started in April 1986, while he was still in the Corps, at the Cleveland Comedy Club. And as they say, "The rest is history."

Drew Carey's Career Highlights

Late 1980s

After his stint in the military, Carey really got into the comedy scene. A pivotal moment in his early career came when he competed on Star Search in 1988. This was the American Idol, or America's Got Talent, of its time.

A lot of contestants sang, like Britney Spears, who was on the show in 1992, but there were other performances as well. Dave Chappelle, Brad Garrett, Ray Romano, Kevin James, and Adam Sandler all got their comedy starts on the show as well. Again, it was a big deal back then.

1990s

Carey appeared on HBO's 14th Annual Young Comedians Special in 1991, as well as on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

By 1994, Carey had signed a television deal with Disney, which led to his co-starring in the series The Good Life. Carey also headlined his own Showtime comedy special, Drew Carey: Human Cartoon, and performed at Showtime's Tenth Anniversary of the Montreal Comedy Festival.

In 1995, The Drew Carey Show debuted, starring, of course, Drew Carey. The show was a massive hit! It went on to run until 2004. Around the same time, in 1998, Drew began hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which he continued to host until the end of 2007.

The Price is Right

Drew Carey has been the host of The Price Is Right since 2007. He took over the hosting duties from the legendary Bob Barker, who had been the face of the show for 35 years.

Carey's transition into the role was initially met with some skepticism, given the iconic status of Barker. However, after talking with Bob and getting some needed advice, Carey brought his own unique style and humor to the show.

Under Carey's tenure, The Price Is Right has maintained its popularity and continued to be a daytime television staple. Carey's hosting approach makes contestants feel at ease while injecting his own humor into the proceedings. He has one rule for all of them, though: they cannot pick him up and spin him around.

Drew Carey Wrote A Book

As for additional business ventures, the bio book mentioned above, "Dirty Jokes and Beer," was published in 1997. Carey has also written for and produced various shows he has been in.

Personal Facts About Drew Carey

Religion

Drew Carey is a practicing Buddhist, along with quite a few other celebs, like Goldie Hawn and Orlando Bloom.

Politics

Carey is very vocal about his libertarian beliefs. Advocating for personal freedoms, he actively supports causes such as gun rights and the legalization of medical marijuana.

Relationships

Drew Carey dated and was engaged to Nicole Jaracz in 2007. In 2012, they terminated their engagement.

Carey was also briefly engaged to Amie Harwick, an author and therapist, in January 2018. However, the engagement ended in November of the same year. Amie Harwick was murdered in 2020, and it took a huge emotional toll on Drew.

Drew Carey's Net Worth

Drew Carey has a massive net worth of $165 million. He makes $12.5 million a year to host The Price Is Right. With The Drew Carey Show in its final season, he was earning $750,000 per episode.