Drew Carey may be known for his quick wit and charm as a beloved TV host, but behind the laughter lies a haunting tragedy.
The murder of his former fiancée, Amie Harwick, continues to cast a dark shadow over his life.
Inside Drew Carey’s traumatic childhood
Being a Hollywood star isn’t always as glamorous as it seems—your private life is constantly under the microscope. And when you’ve faced real-life struggles, the speculation only intensifies. But one celebrity who has taken control of his own story is TV host and actor Drew Carey.
Talking openly about difficult and tragic experiences is never easy, but I hope Drew’s heartbreaking journey can encourage others to speak out about their own struggles. You don’t have to do it in public, but Drew has used his platform time and time again to help those who’ve been through their own horrors.
What many may not know about Drew Carey, 66, is that his childhood was tough.
His father passed away from a heart attack when Drew was just 8 years old —something that understandably left a huge impact on the young boy’s psyche. School wasn’t easy for him either, as he was expelled twice for poor academic performance.
But it was the sudden death of his father that cast a dark shadow over his early years growing up in Cleveland, Ohio.
“My dad died when I was a kid, and soon after that, I started biting my nails,” he shared.
“It got so bad that I was biting my cuticles, the pads of my fingers, tearing the skin until they bled. It hurt to even hold a pencil, and I was ashamed of how my hands looked.”
Suicide attempts
Drew and his two brothers were raised by their mother, who worked two jobs to make ends meet.
”I have been in a lot of desperate situations,” Drew told the Kirkland Reporter in 2010.
He also revealed that he was once molested, struggled with bouts of depression, and made two suicide attempts by swallowing a large number of sleeping pills.
After leaving university, Carey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1980 and served for six years as a field radio operator in the 25th Marine Regiment in Ohio. He adopted his crew cut hairstyle while serving in the military.
He later opened up about his suicide attempts, explaining that he first tried at 18 and again in his twenties.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Carey admitted. “The first time, I drank a couple of beers and took a whole bottle of Sominex, thinking it would work. My fraternity brothers rushed me to the medical center, and as I was throwing up, my friend Paul started singing the Sominex jingle: ‘Take Sominex tonight and sleep… sleep… sleep.’ I laughed so hard in that moment. Humor has always been my way out.”
Thankfully, Drew Carey turned things around. He began to rediscover himself, with the help of books and therapy. He learned to cope with his depression in a healthier way.
“I started reading books by Wayne Dyer, and one of them really hit me: Why am I walking around feeling guilty about everything? I realized I had been apologizing for existing.”
The tragedy in 2020
Since 2007, Drew Carey has been the host of the iconic game show The Price Is Right. He also made the decision to lose weight, and for a while, it seemed like his life was on the right track.
But in 2020, disaster struck with full force. That year, the heartbreaking news broke that Drew Carey’s former fiancée, Dr. Amie Harwick, had been tragically murdered.
In January 2018, Drew and Amie were more in love than ever, and the couple excitedly announced their engagement, revealing they’d been together for six unforgettable months before deciding to take the next step and marry.
At the time, Amie Harwick worked as a licensed marriage and family therapist, as well as an accomplished author, having written self-help books such as The New Sex Bible for Women.
She had earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and later received a Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Her Instagram and website showcased her role as an educator, advocate for women, and a well-known Hollywood personality.
Unfortunately, Drew and Amie’s relationship came to an end pretty short after they met. Carey called off their engagement in November 2018, and the couple parted ways.
Still loved each other
Despite their breakup, there was no denying the strong affection they still had for each other. In fact, Drew got emotional when he spoke about their time together on his Sirius XM show ”Drew Carey’s Friday Night Freak-Out.”
During one broadcast, Carey recalled that in September 2018, he had been in the ”best relationship” of his life with Amie. He admitted that even after their breakup, they still loved one another.
Drew described Amie as fun, beautiful, and someone who truly cared about others, and it brought him joy to witness her improve their lives.
He fondly remembered how, when they were together, he would send her setlists for his Sirius XM show, and she once got emotional listening to one of his creations. The two would often play it on repeat, singing along while dancing in the kitchen or even slow-dancing in the bathroom.
Drew shared that they would hold hands in the car while listening to their special songs, which held deep sentimental value for them. He played the setlist for his listeners so they could hear just how much he and Amie had loved each other.
A ”bloodcurdling scream”
Given all of this, it’s easy to understand just how shocking it must have been for Drew when he learned that Amie had been murdered. On February 15, 2020, 38-year-old Amie was found severely injured outside her Hollywood Hills home.
Amie Harwick’s roommate, Michael Herman, recounted being awakened by a ”bloodcurdling scream” early that morning. He immediately realized that someone was upstairs attacking Amie.
The murderer was Amie Harwick’s ex-boyfriend, who had assaulted her inside her home.
Three days later, disturbing new reports emerged. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office declared her death a homicide, and it was revealed that Amie had “fallen” from a third-story balcony.
Police observed that the suspect had a black eye and a bite mark on his bicep.
“To us, it was indicative of Amie fighting for her life,” Prosecutor Victor Avila told 48 Hours. “But she was obviously up against a much bigger, stronger opponent.”
According to People, Harwick had previously obtained two restraining orders against Gareth Pursehouse, the man suspected of murdering her. She had dated him more than a decade earlier, before beginning her relationship with Drew.
Pursehouse was initially held on a $2 million bond after his arrest, and he was re-arrested just hours after posting bail. In April 2020, he pleaded not guilty to the murder of his ex-girlfriend. Later, Gareth Pursehouse was convicted of murdering Amie and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The final hours of Amie Harwick
In February 2022, on the second anniversary of Amie Harwick’s tragic death, Drew Carey opened up in an interview with 48 Hours titled ”The Final Hours of Amie Harwick.” He shared that he wasn’t sure if he could ever look at Valentine’s Day the same way again, given the deep emotional toll of her loss.
The television host admitted that he had no desire to celebrate the day anymore, calling it a reminder of pain rather than love. He reflected on how often he thought about Amie, revealing that their relationship had been deeply personal and special, a time when they could truly be themselves with each other.
One of the most heart-wrenching moments Carey shared was that just three days before Amie’s tragic death, he had received a text from her.
“Out of the blue, she texted me: ‘Hey, it’s Amie. I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness. I would love to get together and talk.’ I told her I loved her and that I’d see her the next week,” he recalled.
Just days later, Harwick was killed.
“It destroyed me for a while. There was no closure,” Carey said.
“A friend later told me that she shed tears when she read that message. She still cared. I still loved her.”
Met her friends at the funeral
Today, Drew admits he’s very cautious about his mental health, constantly monitoring it to avoid triggers. But despite this, he continues to speak openly about Amie’s death, most recently in an interview with US Weekly.
He shared that he thinks about her ”all the time” and ”every day,” adding, “Her death still affects me and shapes my views on relationships and intimacy.”
”After Amie died and we had the funeral, her three best friends reached out, saying, “We wanted to tell you how much Amie loved you and cared for you and how well she spoke of you.” I was so moved by it. They’ve now become some of my best friends. I also got to reconnect with her mother, father and brother. We held each other up through the funeral and the trial [of Harwick’s ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse, who was convicted of killing her by strangulation and throwing her from the third-floor balcony of her home]. Now Amie’s memory and the things she lived for keep us going,” Drew shared.
It’s clear that this tragedy, along with everything else Drew has gone through in his life, has deeply affected him. I truly admire his strength in sharing such personal and painful experiences so openly. I believe his story has the power to help many who are going through or have gone through similar situations.
Rest in peace, Amie, and Drew, we think you’re truly amazing! Your strength and openness inspire us all.
