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Growing up in the 50s, Drew Carey is now a man that is well known in America, not only for his shows as a comedian but for his honesty and realness. If you take a poll and ask about this American icon, you’d understand how popular he has become over the years. We all know him as a great comedian with a dark sense of humor, but he’s also an actor and a writer.
Drew Carey is a household name in America. In today’s post, you’ll get to know more facts about this American icon that has entertained us through trying and happy times.
He Wrote An Autobiography
In his book, Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined, Carey wrote to give the people a fragment of his past struggles as a child and his never-boring adult life. He’s generous enough to include intimate details of his life and uncensored jokes laden with lots of dark humor. Reading his book allows you to know more about the iconic comedian that has graced the entertainment industry for over three decades. This book can be described as comedic with a twist and it is a New York Times bestseller.
He Started As A Stand-Up Comedian
As a child, Drew Carey kept himself occupied by reading comic books and listening to jokes. But, he began his comedy career when his childhood friend, David Lawrence, asked him to write jokes for his radio show in Cleveland. In his book, Carey stated that he told jokes that got him noticed. But things took an upward turn when he decided to get real with his audience. He told jokes honestly, in a way he’d talk to his friends over a couple of beers. He later went on to win an open mic comedy competition and became the Master of Ceremonies at the Cleveland Comedy Club. He had his national break when he competed on Star Search in 1988.
His First TV Show Paycheck Purchase
You’d not believe it if someone told you this without any evidence. Carey wrote in his book that he bought a big-screen TV with his first paycheck from his first TV show, The Good Life, on NBC. He thought that was the most sensible item to buy even though he had no money in the bank. He figured his friends would appreciate the TV rather than a new set of furniture or if he had changed the interior design of his home. The first movie he rented to watch on it was Ben Hur, which he thought was fantastic.
He Is A Veteran
After he was kicked out of college, he immersed himself in reading self-help books to find motivation for living. Drew Carey was 22-years old, he had no job and he lived with his brother Neil in Mission Viejo, California. This was when he joined the Marine Corps reserves. In his book, he attests to the fact that his life was changed for the better after he joined them. He spent six years in the military, where he developed himself physically and mentally. He became confident and focused. He also worked as a waiter and took on many odd jobs to earn a living.
He Doesn't Need His Specs
Carey adopted his signature look of the crew cut and heavy glasses when he was serving under United States Marine Corps. The original frames of his glasses were from his early days as a stand-up comedian. He used to need them, but not anymore. In 2001 he had Lasik surgery and could see clearly. He kept the heavy glasses more as a fashion accessory than for medical necessity. Sometimes, he wears wire rims or contact lenses. He shared an experience he had when he was talking with some people and they couldn’t recognize him because he wasn’t wearing the heavy glasses.
He Was Kicked Out Of Kent State University Twice
Drew Carey suffered bouts of depression from a young age and this caused him to perform poorly in school. After he graduated from high school in 1975, he went to Kent State University where he became a member of the Delta Tau fraternity and started to love board games. Nevertheless, he found it difficult to devote himself to a major and still battled depression. This further plunged his grades and he attempted to commit suicide twice by swallowing a large number of sleeping pills. He was kicked out of Kent State University twice due to poor academic performance. In the end, he dropped out of college to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian.
He Received An Honorary Degree From Kent State University
Although he got kicked out of college, he received an honorary degree from Kent State University because of his contribution to the entertainment industry as a stand-up comedian. In 2000, he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Cleveland State University. He has also received several awards and recognition for his charity works and acts as a comedian. In 1994, he received the Cable Ace Award for best writing of the show Drew Carey Human Cartoon. He’s also one of the few WWE Hall of Fame inductees who isn’t a professional wrestler but is part of their celebrity group.
He’s A Philanthropist
Carey is a philanthropist who has supported many charities, particularly libraries. On May 2, 2000, he participated in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and chose to donate his $500,000 winnings to the Ohio Library Foundation. In June 2007, he challenged five players from the national soccer teams to defeat him at the video game FIFA 07 for the Xbox 360. He pledged to give $100,000 (in $10,000 increments) to the Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund if anyone could defeat him. He ended up donating $100,000 plus $60,000 for losing two games out of the six games he played.
He's A Father Figure To Ex’s Son, Connor
Carey and Nicole Jaracz were involved in a long relationship and they were engaged to be married, but they eventually parted ways. However, he continues to be like a father to Nicole Jaracz's son, Connor, from a previous relationship. While the relationship lasted over five years, they parted on amicable terms. During the period they were together, Nicole and Connor were featured in The Drew Carey Show several times. In January 2018, he released news of becoming engaged to therapist Amie Harwick, but they also went their separate ways as well.
He Loves Sports
Drew Carey enjoys participating in a variety of sports. He’s a follower of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Cleveland Indians. In Germany, he attended the 2006 World Cup Finals as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals, which took place in South Africa. He also holds a share in the Seattle Sounders FC. His team started playing in 2009 and won Minor League Soccer Cup. They are also the current winners of this year’s competition. Drew Carey also has a keen interest in Scottish teams the Rangers and FC Barcelona.