Drew Carey started out as a stand-up comedian before becoming famous on television.

• Mid-1980s: After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Carey began performing stand-up in Cleveland comedy clubs.
• 1986: Won an open-mic contest, which helped him land local gigs.
• Late 1980s – Early 1990s: Appeared on national TV shows like Star Search and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where his clean, relatable humor about everyday life caught attention.
• Known for observational comedy about ordinary situations, relationships, and self-deprecating humor.
• Delivered material in a laid-back, approachable manner, often wearing his trademark thick-rimmed glasses.
• His success in stand-up got him roles on TV, leading to his own hit sitcom, The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004), and later hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway? and The Price Is Right.

stand-up was the foundation of Drew Carey’s entertainment career. Without it, we probably wouldn’t know him as the sitcom star or game show host he became.