| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amie Nicole Harwick |
| Date of Birth | May 20, 1981 |
| Date of Death | February 15, 2020 |
| Age at Time of Death | 38 years |
| Birthplace | Sellersville, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Education | B.A. Psychology (Cal Poly), M.A. Clinical Psychology (Pepperdine), PhD (IASHS) |
| Professional Background | Marriage and Family Therapist, Author, Advocate |
| Book | The New Sex Bible for Women (2014) |
| Advocacy | Pineapple Support, Rock to Recovery |
| Relationship with Drew Carey | Engaged in 2018, separated amicably later that year |
| Cause of Death | Murder (Strangulation and fall from balcony) |
| Reference Website | www.amieharwick.com |
In 2017, Amie Harwick and Drew Carey met at a summer event. They clicked right away; in just a few weeks, they were strolling through Disneyland together, a charming and revealing gesture. The renownedly private Carey had at last shown his vulnerable side to the world. The two became engaged by the beginning of 2018. Their relationship was eerily reminiscent of the uncommon connections between healers and creatives—equal parts humor and depth of feeling. They stayed close and frequently spoke well of each other even though their engagement ended that same year.
Instead of engaging in typical celebrity stunts, Amie Harwick gained notoriety for her incredibly successful counseling that connected with people from all walks of life. In West Hollywood, she served couples, performers in the adult industry, and creatives. Her book, The New Sex Bible for Women, helped demystify mental health and intimacy in a way that was incredibly empowering and transparent. She transformed her experiences as a go-go dancer, personal trainer, and model into layers of empathy that profoundly influenced her therapy. She had graduate degrees from Pepperdine and an unwavering drive.
Harwick connected herself with nonprofits like Pineapple Support, which provides mental health services to adult entertainers—an underserved and frequently misrepresented industry—through strategic outreach. She spoke in a firm but caring tone. She promoted the right to emotional wellness as a fundamental need, whether she was speaking at events or on YouTube. Her method of therapy, which combined grounded emotional intelligence with sexual awareness, felt especially novel to many clients and colleagues.
It was a devastating blow when she passed away in early 2020. Hours after seeing a burlesque performance, Amie came home to her Hollywood Hills apartment on Valentine’s Day. Her roommate reported screaming to 911 a few minutes later. Amie was found unconscious on the patio beneath her third-floor balcony by the time the officers arrived. She passed away in the hospital not long after. She later learned that her long-feared ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, had broken into her house, waited, and then brutally attacked her. In 2023, he was found guilty and given a life sentence without the possibility of release.
The case attracted public attention because it represented a much larger crisis, not just because of its celebrity ties. Women are still extremely vulnerable to intimate partner violence, even if they have resources and restraining orders. It was especially hurtful given the context of her life’s work. Although Harwick had advised numerous people on how to avoid abuse, she was unable to do so herself.
Carey’s reaction was quick and intensely sentimental. The Price Is Right’s production was put on hold. His tribute reverberated with eerie sincerity as he said that their love was the kind that people are “lucky to have once in a lifetime.” Since then, Carey has taken part in advocacy talks and worked to improve laws pertaining to protective orders and stalking. His sorrow was transformed into consciousness, providing a unique and relatable reaction from a comedian-focused television personality.
Industries were affected by Amie’s passing. It led to more in-depth discussions about burnout and safety among therapists. It served as a terrifying reminder to women in entertainment of the potentially harmful attention that comes with being in the spotlight. It was a cruel turn of events that she met her killer at the XBIZ Awards, just weeks before she passed away. In a pattern remarkably similar to other femicide cases based on entitlement and resentment, witnesses heard him refer to her as a “bitch” and accuse her of ruining his life.
But her legacy endures. Pineapple Support has noted a markedly higher demand for donations and counseling services since 2020. Rock to Recovery keeps up its incredibly effective use of music therapy to help people who are struggling with addiction. Both nonprofits pay tribute to Amie by performing healing acts every day that reflect her life’s work rather than with plaques or performances.
A larger cultural movement to acknowledge mental health as a critical issue is reflected in Harwick’s life. Her ascent, characterized by intellectual curiosity and unvarnished honesty, went against antiquated notions of what a therapist ought to be. She was unapologetically present rather than clinical or aloof. She was also very adaptable, managing her own past traumas while still making room for others.
The way the public has responded to her passing is also similar to movements like Time’s Up and #MeToo, which have compelled difficult discussions about accountability, violence, and who is believed. Similar to actress Evan Rachel Wood’s continuous campaign against abuse, Harwick’s story keeps pushing for necessary but challenging change. Many people now associate her name with both loss and the call for structural change.
