Ken Jennings is a former Jeopardy! champion who became the show’s host. Drew Carey is a comedian/actor who became the host of The Price is Right. Both men replaced legends (Alex Trebek and Bob Barker). Both men have become very good at their jobs. However, they have something else in common too.
Here is what fans realized that Ken Jennings and Drew Carey have in common, outside of hosting game shows.
Ken Jennings & Drew Carey Share Something Important
Drew Carey has hosted The Price is Right since 2007, serving in the role for 17 years now. He replaced Bob Barker, who served as the host for 35 years. Ken Jennings replaced Alex Trebek as the Jeopardy! host in 2021. Trebek hosted the show for 36 years.
On Thursday, May 23, fans began to wish both Drew Carey and Ken Jennings a happy birthday. It turns out that both gameshow hosts were born on the same day, but 16 years apart. Drew was born on May 23, 1958, (66) and Ken was born on May 23, 1974, (50).
Fans took to social media to wish both of them a happy birthday:
- “Happy birthday @KenJennings. I’d have gotten you something, but I feel like you have everything you could possibly want, already!”
- “A happy birthday to Ken Jennings. the original Jeopardy GOAT.”
- “Happy 66th Birthday Drew, I hope you have an amazing day, Love Is…Drew Carey”
- “Happy Birthday to the hilarious Drew Carey! Thanks for always bringing the laughs!”
There are some other huge stars with birthdays on May 23 as well. This also marks the birthday of The Walking Dead’s Melissa McBride (1965), Archer’s H. Jon Benjamin (1966), and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler (1986).
Ken Jennings & Drew Carey Road To The Game Shows
Ken Jennings got his hosting role on Jeopardy! thanks to being one of the best ever to play the game. When Alex Trebek was the host, Ken competed originally in 2004. He holds the record for the most consecutive wins with 74 and he has won $4.522 million in his multiple appearances on the show.
After Alex Trebek died in 2020, Mike Richards took his place. However, he left due to outside controversies and Jeopardy! replaced him with Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik. Since that time, Bialik has left the series and Jennings is now the sole host of the show.
Drew Carey is a different story. He was a comedian and actor who made his name on Whose Line Is It Anyway? and The Drew Carey Show in the 1990s. In 2007, he moved to gameshow hosting, including the show Power of 10. However, when Bob Barker announced his retirement in 2007, Carey agreed to take the position on that show.
What are your thoughts on Drew Carey and Ken Jennings celebrating their birthdays on the same day? Do you enjoy both of the hosts on The Price is Right and Jeopardy!?
