Biography
Who is Steve Harvey?
Early life
Broderick Stephen Harvey was born on January 17, 1957, in Welch, West Virginia. He was the youngest of five children born to Jesse Harvey and Eloise Vera. His father worked as a coal miner. His family later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended Glenville High School and graduated in 1974. He briefly attended Kent State University as an advertising major before leaving college.
During his childhood, Steve had a severe stutter, which he eventually overcame. When he was in the sixth grade, he wrote that he wanted to appear on television when he grew up. After achieving his dream later in life, he sent a television set to his former teacher every Christmas for the rest of her life.
Early career and comedy
Before finding success in entertainment, Steve worked multiple jobs, including as a boxer, an autoworker, an insurance salesman, a carpet cleaner, and a mailman. He performed his first stand-up comedy routine on October 8, 1985, at the Hilarities Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio. In the late 1980s, he experienced a period of homelessness lasting three years, during which he often slept in his car.
Steve eventually gained recognition as a finalist in the Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search in 1990. This success led to him taking over as the host of It's Showtime at the Apollo. He also starred in the television sitcom Me and the Boys and later fronted The Steve Harvey Show on The WB network from 1996 to 2002.
Television and hosting career
In 1997, Steve toured as part of the Kings of Comedy alongside Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. The tour was adapted into a film titled The Original Kings of Comedy, directed by Spike Lee. Steve began hosting The Steve Harvey Morning Show in 2000, a weekday radio program that later achieved nationwide syndication.
Steve started hosting the game show Family Feud in September 2010. Under his tenure, the show achieved higher ratings, and he became the longest-serving host in the program's history. He also began hosting Celebrity Family Feud. In addition to game shows, he hosted the Miss Universe pageant for multiple years and launched his own arbitration-based court show, Judge Steve Harvey.
Books and business ventures
As an author, Steve wrote several books, including his 2009 bestselling relationship guide Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. The book spent weeks on The New York Times best-seller list and was later adapted into a feature film in 2012. He also wrote the book Jump: Take the Leap of Faith to Achieve Your Life of Abundance.
In 2017, Steve founded Steve Harvey Global, an entertainment company that houses his production company, East 112. Together with his wife, Marjorie, he established The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation, which focuses on youth education and mentoring programs.
Birthday and age
Steve Harvey was born on January 17, 1957, which makes Steve 69 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Steve shares the date with 61 other famous people.
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