Steve Harvey Biography

Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey (born January 17, 1957) is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television/radio personality and best-selling author who hosts The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Steve Harvey, and Family Feud. He is the author of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, which was published in March 2009, and the book Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find and Keep a Man.

He starred in The Steve Harvey Show, and he was featured in The Original Kings of Comedy. He also hosts the Steve Harvey Project, on an extended cable channel.

Life and career

Early years

Harvey was born on January 17, 1957 in Welch, West Virginia, the son of Eloise and Jesse Harvey, a coal miner. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he graduated from Glenville High School in 1974. Shortly after high school he attended Kent State University and West Virginia University and is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He has been a boxer, an insurance salesman, a carpet cleaner, and a mailman.

Comedy career

Steve Harvey first performed stand-up comedy on October 8, 1985 at the Hilarities Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a finalist in Second Annual Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search performing on April 16, 1990, eventually leading to a long stint as host of It's Showtime at the Apollo, succeeding Mark Curry in that role. His success as a stand-up comedian led to a starring role on the ABC show Me and the Boys in 1994. He would later star on the WB network show, The Steve Harvey Show, which ran from 1996 to 2002. While popular in the African-American community (the show won multiple NAACP Image Awards), the show never achieved critical acclaim outside of the African-American community, a matter about which Harvey has often complained.

In 1997, Harvey continued his work in stand-up comedy, touring as one of the Kings of Comedy, along with Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley and Bernie Mac. The comedy act would later be put together into a film by Spike Lee called The Original Kings of Comedy. DVD sales of The Original Kings of Comedy and Don't Trip, He Ain't Through With Me Yet increased Harvey's popularity. Harvey released a hip hop and R&B audio CD on a record label he founded, and authored a book, Steve Harvey's Big Time. That title was also used as the name of Harvey's comedy and variety television show (later renamed Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge) which aired on The WB network from 2003 until 2005. Harvey also launched a clothing line which featured a line of dress wear. In 2005 he co-starred in the movie Racing Stripes. He had appeared in the 2003 movie The Fighting Temptations alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé Knowles. Harvey achieved further critical and commercial success through his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and its subsequent cinematic follow-up Think Like a Man, an ensemble romantic comedy depicting characters taking advice on dating from the book.

In 2008, Harvey hosted the Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey, a teen-focused personal and professional enrichment event that took place January 17"20, 2008 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Harvey along with a team of judges chose 100 teens to attend the event.

Radio host

The Steve Harvey Morning Show

Harvey is the host of a weekday-morning radio program, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, which was originally syndicated through Radio One, Inc. from September 2000 until May 2005, and which continues to air to the present time.

Family Feud

Harvey began hosting Family Feud in September 2010, and is the first African American to do so. The show has seen significantly improved ratings under Harvey. As of November 2012, it is the second most-watched daytime syndicated show.

Personal life

Harvey has been married three times and has four biological children. He has twin daughters, Karli and Brandi (born 1982) and a son, Broderick Jr. (born 1991), from his first marriage to Marcia Harvey. Harvey also has another son, Wynton (born 1997), from his second marriage to Mary Shackelford. The couple divorced in November 2005.

In June 2007 he married his current wife, Marjorie Bridges, who he says is responsible for making him a better man and changing his life. The Harveys moved from Atlanta, Georgia and currently live in Chicago area to tape a daily talk show for NBCUniversal from the company's Chicago studios. Production on Family Feud and the radio show will remain in Atlanta, though Harvey will host the radio show from Chicago as well.

Harvey is a devout Christian.

Controversy

On May 30, 2009, Harvey appeared on an episode of Larry King Live guest hosted by Joy Behar. During that interview, Harvey asserted that women should not date atheists, who he claimed have "no moral barometer". Harvey stated that he refuses to speak to anyone claiming to be an atheist, who he said are "idiot(s)".

In August 2011 on his radio show, Harvey called Cornel West and Tavis Smiley, "Uncle Toms" because of their criticism of President Barack Obama.

Awards and honors

In 2007, Harvey won the Syndicated Personality/Show of the Year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other finalists included: Delilah, Blair Garner, Kidd Kraddick, The Lia Show and John Tesh.

In 2011, Harvey was awarded the BET Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards of that year.

In 2013, Harvey won the Favorite New Talk Show Host award at the 39th People's Choice Awards.

On May 13, 2013, he received the 2,497th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Television roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993"2000	Showtime at the Apollo	Himself/Host
1994"1995	Me and the Boys	Steve Tower	Television program 19 episodes
1996"2002	'	Steve Hightower	Television program 122 episodes
2001	'	The Credit Card	Voice only Animated series Episode: "Don't Leave Home Without It"
2002	My Wife and Kids	Steve	Television program Episode: "Jay the Arist"
2003	'	Mr. Barnes	Television program Episode: "The Hold Up"
2003"2005	Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge	Himself/Host
2009	Lie To Me	Police Officer
2010	Who Wants To Be a Millionaire	Himself/Host
2010"present	Family Feud	Himself/Host	Season 12 Nominated "? Outstanding Game Show Host (2013)
2012"present	Steve Harvey	Himself/Host	Nominated "? Outstanding Talk Show Host (2013)

Film roles

Year	Title	Role	Note
2000	'	Himself
2003	'	Miles the DJ
2003	Love Don't Cost a Thing	Clarence Johnson
2004	Johnson Family Vacation	Mack
2004	You Got Served	Mr. Rad
2005	Racing Stripes	Buzz the Fly	Voice only
2009	Madea Goes to Jail	Himself	Cameo appearance
2012	Think Like a Man	Himself	Cameo appearance, also executive producer