Drew Allison Carey, born on May 23, 1958, is an American comedian, actor, and game show host. He rose to fame through his hit sitcom and later became the longest-tenured host of a beloved daytime game show.
His journey from a working-class Cleveland childhood to Hollywood royalty is one of the most compelling stories in American entertainment.
Who is Drew Carey?
Drew Carey is an American comedian, actor, television producer, and game show host. He first gained national attention with The Drew Carey Show, a sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004.
Additionally, he hosted the wildly popular improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? on ABC starting in 1998.
Since 2007, Carey has served as the host of The Price Is Right on CBS, replacing the legendary Bob Barker. He is now one of the most recognizable faces in American daytime television. Furthermore, he is a minority owner of Seattle Sounders FC, a Major League Soccer team, and serves as chairman of the Sounders FC Alliance.
His memoir, Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined, became a New York Times bestseller and offered fans a candid look at his life. Carey also wrote his stand-up comedy special, Drew Carey: Human Cartoon, which earned him a CableACE Award for Best Writing in 1994. He is truly a multidimensional entertainer.
Early Life of Drew Carey
Drew Carey grew up in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. He was the youngest of three sons born to Lewis Carey and Beulah Carey. His two older brothers are Roger Carey and Neal Carey.
Tragedy struck the family early. His father, Lewis Carey, died from a brain tumor in 1966 when Drew was just eight years old. That loss deeply affected him and shaped his resilience and humor throughout his life.
His mother, Beulah Carey, raised the three boys largely on her own. Despite the financial struggles of a working-class household, she encouraged Drew’s creative instincts. Those early years in Cleveland became the well of material he would draw from throughout his career.
Drew Carey Age
Drew Carey is 68 years old as of June 2, 2026. He was born on May 23, 1958, in Cleveland, Ohio. He celebrated his 68th birthday just days before this article was published.
Drew Carey Ethnicity and Nationality
Drew Carey is an American national. Per multiple sources, he is of mixed English, Welsh, German, and Spanish ancestry. He grew up in Ohio and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Drew Carey Height and Weight
Drew Carey stands at 5 feet 10 inches (approximately 1.78 m) tall. He has confirmed this height himself on his social media. Carey is also well known for his remarkable health transformation.
Around 2010, he underwent a dramatic lifestyle change. He lost over 80 pounds through diet and exercise, dropping from over 300 pounds to approximately 220 pounds. Also notable, he reversed his type-2 diabetes as a result of that transformation. That journey became an inspiration to many of his fans.
Drew Carey Education
Carey attended James Ford Rhodes High School in Cleveland, where he played the cornet and trumpet in the marching band. He graduated from high school in 1975. He later enrolled at Kent State University but was expelled twice for poor academic performance.
After three years at Kent State without completing his degree, he left the university. However, that setback did not deter him from pursuing a creative career. He went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and later redirected his ambitions entirely toward comedy.
Drew Carey Career
Drew Carey’s career spans more than four decades and covers stand-up comedy, acting, television production, and game show hosting. He built his success step by step, starting from open-mic nights in Cleveland. His military discipline and Midwestern work ethic served him well throughout.
Military Service and Early Stand-Up
After leaving Kent State, Carey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, where he served from approximately 1980 to 1986. During his time in the Corps, his trademark military buzz cut and black wide-rim glasses became a defining part of his look.
He began his stand-up comedy career in 1985, performing at local Cleveland clubs. In April 1986, he performed at the Cleveland Comedy Club in what marked his official professional comedy debut.
One of his early breaks came when he competed on Star Search ’88, which helped introduce him to national audiences. He was gaining momentum fast.
The Drew Carey Show and Major Breakthrough
Carey’s comedy career truly exploded in 1994 when he wrote and starred in the Showtime stand-up special Drew Carey: Human Cartoon, which won him a CableACE Award for Best Writing. That special caught the attention of network executives.
In 1995, The Drew Carey Show premiered on ABC. The sitcom revolved around a fictionalized version of Carey navigating work and life in Cleveland with a group of friends. It ran for nine seasons and 233 episodes, wrapping in 2004. During its peak years, it earned seven Emmy nominations.
In 2001 through 2004, Carey earned $750,000 per episode for the show, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
While still starring in The Drew Carey Show, Carey began hosting the American version of the British improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? on ABC, which debuted on August 5, 1998. He hosted alongside improvisers Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, and Wayne Brady, among others.
The show ran for 220 episodes. Also in 1998, Carey appeared on the Forbes list of highest-paid entertainers, ranking 24th with earnings of $45.5 million. He was simultaneously running two hit network shows. That feat was exceptional even by Hollywood standards.
The Price Is Right and Continued Success
After The Drew Carey Show ended in 2004 and Whose Line concluded in 2007, Carey stepped into one of television’s most iconic roles. In July 2007, CBS named him the new host of The Price Is Right, replacing the legendary Bob Barker, who had hosted the show since 1972.
Carey has hosted The Price Is Right continuously ever since, making 2026 his 19th year in the role. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he earns $12.5 million per year for hosting the show, making him one of the highest-paid game show hosts in the world. He has stated publicly that he hopes to continue hosting the show for many years to come.
Additionally, Carey hosted Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show on The WB and later Comedy Central from 2004 to 2006. In 2011, he hosted Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza, filmed at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He also hosted the CBS game show Power of 10 in 2007 and 2008. Furthermore, he hosted a long-running radio program on SiriusXM called Drew Carey’s Friday Night Dance Party for over a decade.
Soccer, Photography, and Other Pursuits
Beyond television, Carey became a minority owner of Seattle Sounders FC at the club’s Major League Soccer inception in 2009 and serves as chairman of the Sounders FC Alliance. He is an avid soccer supporter and worked as a sports photographer at U.S. National Soccer Team events.
He also hosted Drew Carey’s Sporting Adventures on The Travel Channel in 2006, a five-part series offering behind-the-scenes coverage of the World Cup.
Moreover, he appeared in several films over the years, including Coneheads (1993), The Big Tease (1999), and the Disney television movie Geppetto (2000), in which he played the title character. His range as a performer is genuinely broad.
Drew Carey Girlfriend / Partner
Drew Carey has never been married. However, he has had two well-known engagements. His first was with Nicole Jaracz, whom he proposed to in 2007. The couple broke off their engagement in 2012 after five years together. Carey remained a paternal figure to Jaracz’s son, Connor.
His second engagement was to Dr. Amie Harwick, a licensed marriage and family therapist. Carey proposed to Harwick in January 2018. However, they called off the engagement later that year in November 2018. Tragically, Harwick was murdered in February 2020, killed by her ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse at her Hollywood Hills home.
Pursehouse was convicted of first-degree murder in September 2023 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in December 2023.
In a February 2025 interview with Us Weekly, Carey said he still thinks about Harwick every day and that her death continues to affect his views on relationships. He stated clearly that he does not currently date. As of 2026, Drew Carey is single. That honesty has only deepened the public’s admiration for him.
Drew Carey Children
Drew Carey has no biological children. However, he has spoken warmly about his relationship with Connor, the son of his former fiancée Nicole Jaracz. Carey served as a father figure to Connor during his relationship with Nicole.
Drew Carey Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Drew Carey’s estimated net worth is $165 million as of 2026. That remarkable fortune was built over decades of work in stand-up comedy, television production, acting, and game show hosting.
His primary income source today is hosting The Price Is Right on CBS, for which he earns $12.5 million per year. Between 2001 and 2004 alone, he earned $750,000 per episode of The Drew Carey Show, totaling more than $59 million for those three seasons before inflation adjustments. He has also built wealth through real estate and his ownership stake in Seattle Sounders FC.
His financial success is a testament to longevity and smart career management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drew Carey’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Drew Carey’s estimated net worth is $165 million as of 2026. He earns $12.5 million per year hosting The Price Is Right on CBS.
How old is Drew Carey?
Drew Carey is 68 years old as of June 2, 2026. He was born on May 23, 1958, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Who is Drew Carey’s girlfriend?
Drew Carey is currently single as of 2026. He was previously engaged to Nicole Jaracz (2007-2012) and Dr. Amie Harwick (January-November 2018). He has stated publicly that he does not date following the tragic death of Harwick in February 2020.
What is Drew Carey’s height?
Drew Carey stands at 5 feet 10 inches (approximately 1.78 m) tall. He confirmed this height himself on social media.
Where was Drew Carey born?
Drew Carey was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, on May 23, 1958. He grew up in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland and currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
What is Drew Carey best known for?
Carey is best known for starring in The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004), hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998-2007), and hosting The Price Is Right on CBS since 2007.
The Bottom Line
Drew Carey’s life story is one of remarkable perseverance. From losing his father at age eight in a working-class Cleveland neighborhood to becoming one of the most durable and beloved figures in American television, his journey defies easy explanation. He turned hardship into humor and humor into an empire.
His career has spanned stand-up comedy, hit sitcoms, improv television, game show hosting, sports ownership, and even photography. Few entertainers have maintained that kind of range and relevance for four decades. Carey’s authenticity, hard work, and genuine connection with audiences have kept him at the top of his field.
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