Overview (3)

Mini Bio (1)

Drew Carey was born on May 23, 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA as Drew Allison Carey. He is a producer and actor, known for Die Drew Carey Show (1995), Robots (2005) and Jack und Jill (2011).



Trade Mark (3)

"Buddy Holly" style glasses



His flat-top haircut



Breathy high-pitched laugh



Trivia (39)

Served in the United States Marine Corps.



(January 8, 1999) Filed $600,000 breach-of-contract suit against A&W restaurant chain when it refused to pay for commercials after an episode of his television series featured competitor McDonald's.



He wrote a memoir titled 'Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined' in 2000, which got on The New York Times Bestseller list. In the memoir, he addressed his difficult childhood, which included the tragic loss of his father to a fatal brain tumor when Drew was 8 years old, as well as episodes of sexual abuse at the hands of a member of his extended family. These dark incidents prompted an early onset of depression and Carey twice attempted suicide before the age of 25.



Underwent LASIK surgery to correct vision; continues to wear trademark glasses as a prop.



Graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School (Cleveland, Ohio) in 1975; he was on the school's marching band. Later attended Kent State University, where he was expelled twice for poor academic performance.



Underwent emergency surgery. Surgeons inserted a stent to open the blocked arteries to his heart. [August 2001]



Competed in the World Wrestling Federation's 30-man Royal Rumble battle royal match on January 21, 2001. He eliminated himself shortly after entering the match as the fifth participant.



Roasted by the New York Friars Club. [October 2002]





Bought his childhood home with his first paycheck from Die Drew Carey Show (1995).

Is a member of Delta Tau Delta International fraternity.



He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6664 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on February 21, 2003. Appropriately enough, the star of this former Marine is located directly in front of the Supply Sergeant, a Hollywood fixture for decades.



Received an honorary degree of Humane Letters from Cleveland State University (2000).



Considers the writings of self-help guru Dr. Wayne W. Dyer a major influence in his life.





Is mentioned in the song "Ohio (Come Back to Texas)" by the rock band Bowling for Soup

Is an avid fan of football (soccer). He says he got into it by playing FIFA and learned the rules ("Soccer for Dummies"), so he could become a "true fan".



Likes "The Sims" series for PC and sparring.



A self-professed "computer geek", Carey owns at least 30 computers and more than 10 video game consoles (six PS2s, four XBOXs, etc).





Was the first-ever celebrity to enter WWE's pay-per-view Royal Rumble. He eliminated himself when the next participant, seven-footer Kane ( Glenn Jacobs ), came out. This became one of WWE's greatest moments in sports entertainment history.



When Die Drew Carey Show (1995) wound up being a major surprise success on television, he was given a Porsche by the production company. He purportedly walked out on the stage of the set, asked, "Who here has got the worst car?" When one of the stage hands spoke up and said he didn't have a car, Carey threw him the keys to his old Miata. (source: Esquire magazine).

Engaged to Nicole Jaracz, a recent graduate of culinary school, proposed October 9, 2007.





His hand was injured on the set of Der Preis ist heiß (1972) when it got jammed in one of the turntable walls.

Is a huge fan of the Cleveland Browns. He introduced the team upon the first game of the 1999 season, when the Browns returned to the NFL.



Following riots by Rangers fans and some of the team's players acting in an unsporting manner, he changed his loyalties from Rangers to Celtic saying: "It's still Glasgow, just a little greener and with proper fans.".





Was selected out of 13 finalists to replace Bob Barker as host of Der Preis ist heiß (1972), when Barker retired in 2007. At first, Carey turned this down, but when CBS approached him a second time, while negotiating a deal, he accepted it.

Carey is the public face and owner of Major Soccer League team Seattle Sounders.



Is a WWE Hall of Famer.





One of his first appearances was on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962). Carey credits Carson for helping to launch his career.

Went on a significant diet and exercise regime in 2010. As a result, he eliminated his type-2 diabetes and lost close to a staggering 100 pounds.



As a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders, Carey helped establish the only band in Major League Soccer, Sound Wave.



Started his comedy career at age 27 and made his first television appearance at age 34.



Worked as a bank teller and waiter before becoming a comedian.



Is known for being extremely polite and courteous to waiters and staff and leaving tips of well over 100 percent.



Personal Quotes (12)

[when asked if he enjoys being famous] Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. I've always been a people watcher. I like to go to malls and just sit, and I can't do that very easily anymore.



[responding to a question about his childhood] Weirdo. Weirdo. Underachiever. Weirdo. Weirdo.



[on government] The less the better. As far as your personal goals are and what you actually want to do with your life, it should never have to do with the government. You should never depend on the government for your retirement, your financial security, for anything. If you do, you're screwed.



I honestly think that it automatically hurts me if I said that I supported the war in Iraq and I support the troops. That automatically kills me for getting a bunch of movies, a bunch of television shows. People don't want to hear from me.





[2007, on succeeding Bob Barker as host of Der Preis ist heiß (1972)] This show fits me like an old shoe, I'm telling you, I love doing it, I'm really happy here, I feel like I belong here, audience certainly feels like I belong.

You can buy liquor in a drive-thru store, but you can't smoke a joint in your own damn house.





[on Johnny Carson ] If he liked you a lot, he would wave you over. I'm not even saying this is a joke but people talk about the feeling of the Holy Spirit going through you and your body that something's changed in your life forever. Being called over to the couch on the "Johnny Carson Show" was the closest I came to that.

I looked at game show hosting as the bottom of the totem pole, one step away from infomercials. I never watched them myself. However, it's been a lot of fun. We try out new things and keep a lot of the classic elements people remember. I enjoy getting to know new people and seeing them win.



Libertarians are essentially what the Republicans were 30 years ago. Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan. They would all fit more under the Libertarian label than the modern day Republican label.



One day, I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed that something as enjoyable as playing with my son was so tough for me to do. Immediately, I started an extensive diet and exercise plan. It completely changed my life and helped cure my Type-2 diabetes.



[on his 1991 appearance on the Johnny Carson Show that was a major career booster] I think the whole routine got him. But the one that really got him was a bit about eating a chili dog at Denny's, and having all the cholesterol march right down to my heart, telling the lettuce to get the hell out of the way. I think he was holding onto his desk for that one.





[on hosting Der Preis ist heiß (1972)] All through my twenties, I was broke. I didn't start making money until I was in my thirties doing stand-up. I really don't take money for granted. I have a lot of empathy for people on the show. I know what it must mean for them to win $5,000, which doesn't seem like a lot of money to give away on a game show nowadays. But it's a lot of money.

Salary (1)