Movies

Drew Carey, 66, Reveals He’s Still Not Dating 5 Years After Ex’s Tragic Murder

BBG News

Drew Carey has opened up about his mental health struggles over the decades.

In a recent interview with UsWeekly, the 66-year-old host of The Price is Right shared that he struggled to find joy in life following the death of his father when he was only 8 years old.

Then he tried to kill himself twice: at 18 and in his twenties.

2020 saw Carey go through a profound sorrow as his previous partner, therapist Amie Harwick, was tragically killed by a past boyfriend.

Experiencing a crushing sorrow upon Amie’s departure, I found myself still deeply enamored with her in those final moments before she left us. We had made plans to reunite, intending to address our separation – a bitter pill to swallow, for the bond between us was strong and unyielding.

Due to the profound effect of Harwick’s loss, he hasn’t ventured into dating anyone new since then, and his friendships with women have remained strictly non-romantic.

As I go about my daily routines, I find myself reflecting frequently on her. Her passing continues to cast a profound impact on me, shaping my perspectives on connections and emotional bonds. We parted ways prior to her demise, yet her memory lingers, teaching me valuable lessons about relationships and intimacy.

Gareth Pursehouse, her former boyfriend, ended up taking her life. He was found guilty for causing her death through strangulation and subsequently hurling her off the third-story balcony of her residence.

Unexpectedly, I received a message from Amie. In it, she expressed that she’s been contemplating the topic of forgiveness quite deeply. She proposed meeting up to discuss certain matters related to this topic.

‘I sent her a message expressing my love and plans to see her the following week. One of her friends informed me that she cried upon hearing my declaration of love. To clarify, I had indeed been deeply in love with her, even though we were no longer together.’

And here was no closure. 

The day after her murder, we missed the opportunity to meet up. It left me shattered for quite some time. To this day, I haven’t pursued romantic relationships. I socialize with women, spend time with them, but it’s all on a friendly level, and I don’t seek anything more. Amie’s demise significantly altered the course of things in my life.

The individual, having shed approximately 80 pounds over the past few years, shared with Us Weekly that his battles with depression stemmed from childhood, yet he’s managed to deal with it effectively through therapy.

The celebrity shared, ‘When I was just eight years old, my father passed away. Shortly afterwards, I developed a habit of biting my fingernails, which persisted throughout my life, becoming particularly problematic as an adult.’

In elementary school and high school, I didn’t just chew on my fingernails; I also bit my cuticles. I’d gnaw at the pads of my fingers and peel off the skin until they bled, causing me pain whenever I held a pen. I would always try to conceal my hands because I felt embarrassed about their appearance.

And he felt a lot of ‘shame and self-hate.’

Drew expressed that the situation was incredibly intense, forcing him to distance himself. Around his 18th year in college, he began purchasing self-improvement literature, and these books turned out to be truly beneficial for him.

A book by Wayne Dyer helped him learn about guilt and letting go of it.

Carey shared, “It struck me: Why do I feel guilty over everything? At school, instead of saying ‘Excuse me’, I’d often apologize unnecessarily. Even making eye contact with people was challenging for me.

Even though I’m speaking to you, I might seem distracted as I look at your shoulders, the wall, or the ground. Deep down, I often feel unworthy: I’m just an ordinary guy like Drew Carey, from a humble family in Cleveland, a town that many people laugh at. Don’t worry about me and my presence; I hope I’m not bothering you.

Let me share a little humor to break the ice. Reading self-help books actually made a difference for me, and later on, I sought therapeutic help as well.

And he addressed trying to kill himself at 18 and in his 20s. 

It turns out, I wasn’t aware of the consequences of my actions. My initial attempt at suicide happened under the influence of alcohol. I consumed a few beers, followed by an entire bottle of Sominex, a medication that isn’t potent enough to be lethal.

However, I’d been told that if one wished to end their life, it was done by taking sleeping pills. The only brand I was familiar with was Sominex. So, I shared this information with my fraternity brothers, saying, “Guys, I just swallowed a bunch of these pills.” In response, they escorted me to the medical center.

As I was vomiting into the bathroom sink, my buddy Paul supported me by gripping my shoulders. In a bid to lighten the mood, he began humming a tune: “Take Sominex tonight and sleep… sleep… sleep.” It made me chuckle so much, helping to improve my spirits during that awkward moment.

Then he saw a counselor. 

It’s beneficial for everyone, regardless if they consult a licensed professional or not, to engage in therapeutic conversations when facing challenges. Speaking with friends, bartenders, or online communities like Reddit can also serve as forms of informal therapy.

Why not consult an expert with a background in psychology, who has a deep understanding of the brain’s functions, including its neurons and how they contribute to forming habits?

And meditation helped.

“For ten days, I attended a course offered by dhamma.org, an experience that transformed my life. Although rooted in Buddhist teachings, the course doesn’t aim to convert you to any specific faith. Instead, it relies on donations, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. All you need to do is register and attend. Prior to this, I considered myself relatively calm, but this experience elevated me even further.

Humor is his way out of everything, he shared.

I’m fine with folks employing dark humor… However, there are moments when I prefer to reflect deeply on life rather than join in the laughter. A sense of equilibrium is important for me.

He also said not going online is a good idea: ‘I stay off social media at night.’

1991 saw him making his first appearance on The Tonight Show hosted by Johnny Carson. Later, he became the main star of the television series, The Drew Carey Show.

Starting in 2007, Drew took charge of hosting CBS’s The Price Is Right, succeeding Bob Barker (who passed away in 2023 at the age of 99). Since then, he has given the show a fresh look with a new stage design, logo, and musical theme.

Read More

2025-02-06 00:09

Previous post Latin Mafia has always trusted its gut. It’s finally paying off
Next post World of Warcraft players donate over $2 million to CureDuchenne: “The World of Warcraft community has shown that gaming can be a powerful force for good.”