Drew Carey (1958--)

Cleveland, OH

Ingratiating and self-effacing, Drew Carey parlayed a Fifties look with a Nineties sense of timing into the first Cleveland prime time network comedy. “The Drew Carey Show” debuted in the fall of 1995 and climbed steadily into the TV ratings. Set in Cleveland with an array of real Cleveland props and references, the Carey sitcom contributed to the rehabilitation of the city’s image in the 90s. It was a nice change from the decades of jokes about burning rivers and bankrupt mayors.

Born in Brooklyn (on the South side), Drew was the youngest of three boys. Carey was expelled twice from KentState for poor academic performance, so he enlisted in the US Marine Corps reserves where he would serve from 1980 to 1986. Soon after, he would begin a stand-up career that would change his life. Late night hosts Johnny Carson and David Letterman loved the be-speckled Clevelander, and soon ABC came calling with a sitcom offer.

“The Drew Carey Show” lasted from 1995 to 2004 and brought much exposure for Cleveland and Carey. The theme song, “Cleveland Rocks,” struck a chord in the nation’s memory; and it is one of the most recognizable things about Cleveland. Besides the sitcom, Drew also hosted an improv show on ABC, called “Whose Line is it Anyway?” That show lasted from 1998 to 2006.

As his two jobs on ABC began to erode, Carey discovered a new passion in life: soccer. He has become one of the most famous supporters of the U.S. national team and even traveled to the 2006 World Cup in Germany as an official photographer for the team. He also is a great supporter of Rangers in Scotland, but that is a poor choice because Celtic (Mr. Dees’s favorite team from his days studying in Scotland) always dominates Rangers. Recently, Drew also became owner of the MLS’s Seattle Sounders, a team that probably has the most passionate and rowdy soccer fans in America.

In 2007, Carey is back in the national spotlight with a marquee job on CBS. After Bob Barker’s retirement after 35 years, Carey was selected to host the Price is Right. The task of replacing a cultural icon like Barker would be a challenge for anyone, and it will be interesting to see if America accepts Carey as the new host. Yet, after three years as host, Carey’s enthusiasm and sheer passion for seeing contestants win has endeared him to many fans of the show.

At 52 years old, Carey remains a major player in Hollywood and a major ambassador for Cleveland.