Drew Carey, who served in the US Marine Corps between 1980 and 1986, maybe better recognized as the host of the game show The Price is Right, or for his previous work as host of improv comedy show Whose Line is it Anyway? It might surprise some to learn, however, that his distinctive haircut and glasses are artifacts from his years of service as a Marine.
Born the youngest of three sons to the Carey family of Old Brooklyn in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of eight Carey lost his father Lewis to a brain tumor. Due to this, and sexual abuse from a member of his extended family, Carey battled depression throughout his youth. He took up marching band in high school, playing the cornet and trumpet. When he graduated from high school he attended Kent State University, yet he was expelled twice for poor academic performance. He twice attempted suicide by sleeping pills before the age of 25. Leaving college without a degree, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1980.
Drew Carey: Marine Before Comedian
Carey served for six years in the 25th Marine Regiment in Ohio as a field radio operator, achieving the rank of Sergeant. This decision was driven by a need for structure and discipline in his life. “I didn’t have any job skills, really. I showed up at the recruiting office, and I joined the Marine Corps, and that was it,” he told Ryan Haidet with WKYC-TV in a 2021 interview in Cleveland. Carey has often spoken about the positive influence of his military service.
The discipline and organizational skills he learned during this time helped him build a strong work ethic and resilience, traits that would prove invaluable in his future career. “I went from not being able to afford to eat or clothe myself to getting three meals a day. I had an instant family. I had something to be proud of every day. I was part of an organization with a history. I was accepted into this brotherhood of people that have done important things and stood for something,” Carey said.
Carey has credited the Marine Corps with giving him the confidence to pursue his dreams and face challenges head-on. During his military service, he honed his comedy skills, by lending books on comedy writing from his local library. The lessons his new family — the Marine Corps — taught Carey to ring true to him to this day. They explain, in part, why he’s committed to the ideal of service.
In 1986, Carey won his first open mic contest and became the MC for the Cleveland Comedy Club. After leaving the Marine Reserves, he pursued his comedy career in earnest, performing at comedy clubs in both Cleveland and Los Angeles, and competed in the 1988 Star Search. It was tough-going: with next to no money, Carey had to leave Los Angeles to return home to Cleveland on one occasion and was living out of his car on occasion. He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in November 1991. In 1994, he wrote and performed his own stand-up special, Drew Carey: Human Cartoon, which aired on Showtime. The same year, Carey co-starred with John Caponera in The Good Life on NBC. However, it was cancelled fairly soon after. After a period consulting on Someone Like Me, an NBC sitcom canceled after just a month, Carey worked with his writing partner Bruce Helford to develop The Drew Carey Show, which premiered in 1995 on ABC. The fictionalized version of himself in the show battled the stresses of work and life with his childhood friends. This show ran for 9 years and went from earning $60,000 an episode to a staggering $750,000. Beginning in 1998, Carey began hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which ran for six years and incorporated improv performers from the group that he helped found, the Improv All-Stars (several of whom also had roles or guest appearances on The Drew Carey Show).
Drew Carey the Household Name
In 2007, Carey was approached by CBS to succeed fellow veteran, World War II sailor Bob Barker, as the host of the game show staple The Price Is Right. While initially trepid about taking over from a television icon like Barker, Carey has grown comfortable in the role, and in 2017 celebrated 10 years as host. Carey has twice been engaged: once to Nicole Jaracz between 2007 and 2012, though they called off their engagement, and then to sex therapist Dr. Amie Hardwick in 2017, which was also called off within a year.
Drew Carey’s Awards
Drew Carey’s accolades highlight his versatility and success across different areas of entertainment, from comedy to game show hosting.
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2003) – Awarded for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
- People’s Choice Award – Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Series for “The Drew Carey Show” (1995).
- Satellite Award – Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical for “The Drew Carey Show” (1998).
- Honorary Marine Title – Title given by the United States Marine Corps for his contributions and support to the Marine community.
- TV Guide Award – Editor’s Choice Award (2000).
- Induction into the WWE Hall of Fame (2011) – Celebrity wing induction for his contributions to WWE.
- Critics’ Choice Television Award Nomination – Best Reality Show Host for “The Price Is Right” (2011).
- National Council of La Raza (NCLR) ALMA Award Nomination – Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Variety or Music Series for “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (2002).
- Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination – Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for “The Drew Carey Show” (2001).
- GLAAD Media Award Nomination – Outstanding Individual Episode for “The Drew Carey Show” (2000).
Drew Carey’s Philanthropy: A Marine’s Heart in Action
Throughout his career, Drew Carey has remained grounded and connected to his roots. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and philanthropic efforts. Carey has supported numerous charitable causes, including the Ohio Library Foundation.
Carey’s commitment to supporting the military community is particularly noteworthy. As a veteran himself, he has consistently used his platform to advocate for veterans’ rights and support initiatives that benefit service members and their families. He has participated in USO tours, entertaining troops stationed overseas and providing a morale boost through his comedy.
A Buddhist libertarian, Carey has never forgotten his time serving in the Marines and continues to support veterans and active duty service members. “I enjoyed the regimen and camaraderie. I knew that once I left the Reserves, I would give back to the military, so I teamed up with the USO.” In 2005 Carey was the headline act in the DoD’s Armed Forces Entertainment tour, which visited and performed at several US military bases in Afghanistan. “Coming and visiting Sailors assigned to aircraft carriers is a very humbling experience. I’m very grateful for their service and for their dedication to the country, ” Carey said.
Among his other achievements, Carey controversially became a WWE Hall of Fame member in 2011 for his 2 minutes and 54 seconds in the 2001 Royal Rumble. He also has part-ownership of the Seattle Sounders, as a massive fan of soccer. He even does sports photography under the name of Brooks Parkenridge.
Read About Other Celebrities Who Served
If you enjoyed learning about Sgt Drew Carey’s service in the military, we invite you to read the stories of other remarkable celebrities who served on our blog. In addition to our profiles of celebrities who served, we share military book reviews, veterans’ service reflections, famous military units and more on the TogetherWeServed.com blog. If you are a veteran, find your military buddies, view historic boot camp photos, build a printable military service plaque, and more on TogetherWeServed.com today.
SHARE:
One of the above photos is of the actor Diedrich Bader, not Drew Carey
Semper FI Drew, we served together the same years. I was stationed at camp lejeune and served in Beirut Lebanon two tours and was involved in the barracks bombing. I watched the shows you were in but I really like the price is right. Have a great day.