Price Is Right host Drew Carey admits deep depression that led him to attempt suicide

Price Is Right host Drew Carey has opened up about a dark period in his life where his depression led him to attempt suicide.

The Price Is Right player celebrates after winning car

WARNING – SENSITIVE CONTENT AHEAD

The Price Is Right’s long-time host Drew Carey is always cheerful, but there was a time in his life when he wasn’t as happy as he is hosting the hit CBS game show.

Years before he took over hosting duties after long-time host Bob Barker retired in 2007, Carey experienced some dark times.

He struggled with depression and nearly committed suicide and he opened up about it just before stepping into Barker’s shoes.

Carey invited Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell to the game show’s set for a tour before his debut but in between jokes, O’Dell heard about Carey’s darker days (per Today).

“It does seem that you have the golden life,” O’Dell told Carey. He replied: “It is pretty cool. I have a really good life.”

“I was depressed for a long time,” Carey revealed.

In fact, both at 18 and in his early 20s, Carey attempted to take his own life by swallowing pills.

“You are so known for your cute personality and your funniness… it seems like so many funny people have a side that they’ve had to go through to get there,” O’Dell Yubi noted.

“There is a reason we want attention all the time. Living in Hollywood, you can get disconnected from everybody. You can feel like you are the only one,” Drew explained.

“So you feel it, you hold it in and you don’t let it go and you don’t try to find help because you think, ‘Oh man if I tell anybody, I’m going to seem like I’m weak. I won’t get a movie deal. I won’t get invited to…’ whatever goes through your head.”

However, Carey made it his priority to make sure he continues to take advantage of any and all opportunities to grow.

“I learned how to believe in myself. Learned how to set goals, you know, self help books man. I just read every single one I can get a hold of and I still do. I read that stuff all the time still,” Carey concluded.

“I am always coming out bigger, better, stronger and happier.”

Barker hosted on the longest-running daytime game show in US history from its beginning in 1972 to 2007. At the end of his tenure, he had decided to retire at age 83.

Carey took over hosting duties in October of that year and Barker died in August 2023 at the age of 99 following several years with Alzheimer’s disease.

In a new interview with TV Insider, Carey shared: “I just show up and punch the clock and hope I have a job every day,” he said. “I don’t think in terms of I’m the longest one. I do have a goal: I want to keep going until I die.

“This is my 18th season. I’ve got to get the 35 and 41 so I can catch Bob Barker and Pat Sajak.”

Carey has no plans to retire any time soon, adding: “Before, I was like, ‘Can I make it to five years? Can I make it to the end of my contract? Can I make it 10 years?’

“The longest I’d been on TV was The Drew Carey Show, nine years. Once I hit 10 years here, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s the longest I’ve ever had a job in my life. It’s such just a great part of my day, my year, my life. I can’t imagine giving it up.’”

The long-time host also spoke of his views of retiring to Entertainment Tonight at CBS’ fall schedule celebration in May.

“I think Bob made a mistake by retiring,” Carey said. “I’m not gonna make that same mistake. As long as my heart is ticking and they want me to be on the show, I think I’m gonna do The Price Is Right.

“I just love it. I’m not going anywhere,” he continued, adding that he was “made for” the job.