A Star Is Born
On January 17, 1957, a little boy was born to a coal miner named Jesse Harvey and his loving wife Eloise Vera, located in Welch, West Virginia. In recognition of the famous actor, Broderick Crawford, they decided to name their newborn son, Broderick Stephen Harvey.
Unlike most of the celebrity superstars we see in Hollywood today, Harvey’s life story started from a place of humble beginnings. He was the youngest kid in his family with four older brothers and sisters, and his parents weren’t famous or connected to the show business world. There wasn’t a clear path for him towards the acting industry—it definitely took him a considerable amount of time, more than most, to finally break through and find his spot under the stardom spotlight.
Early Struggle
At the age of four, Steve Harvey and his family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio. In his early childhood, Steve wrestled with a serious stuttering issue but he put in a lot of effort to conquer it. He never attempted to conceal this struggle. Harvey later disclosed that due to his stuttering over the letter “v”, his buddies even started calling him “Va-va-voom,” a nickname that originated from this incident which occurred in class.
When he made it to junior high, he was already pretty famous around his neighborhood. Many people there were trying to help him get past his troubles, using means that were quite out of the ordinary. Little did they know, he was destined for great success.
Known in the Community
Harvey was once given a piece of advice he never forgot from a man at his local deli. The man promised him a candy treat if he learned the ability to speak clearly. “He taught me before you say anything, say it to yourself three times. Take your time and speak on the exhale,”, Harvey would later share this impactful memory with Parade magazine. This simple interaction stayed with Harvey, serving as a lifelong lesson about the importance of clear communication.
Harvey was born into a typical working class family, and it was his humble beginnings that instilled in him a sense of ambition. He recalls his parents, who despite not having much wealth, provided him with invaluable lessons. “My parents were very loving. They had no money, but my mother gave me faith and my father taught me a work ethic,” Harvey recollected during a media interview. His mother’s gift of faith and his father’s strength of industriousness ultimately shaped his life.
College Dropout
Thanks to his strong work habits, Harvey was able to concentrate and succeed during his high school years. He finished high school in 1974, making him the first in his family to do so. Following this achievement, he proceeded to college, selecting advertising as his major at Kent State University.
During his college years, he was a part of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, truly immersing himself in the Greek lifestyle. Surprisingly, in his third year, he decided to withdraw, never going through the graduation ceremony. He has always been pained by this choice, expressing later on how deeply he laments not earning his degree, “It really threw my life into a downward spiral, and I regret not getting that degree,” he confessed to Parade magazine. Yet Harvey was not about to let this setback mark the end of his progress. He concentrated his efforts on various different fields, striving not to let his past decisions dictate his future.
Hanging Up the Hat
Despite the rocky times in his personal life, Harvey continued to be a sensation on TV and radio. Then, in 2012, he made the tough decision to say farewell to what brought him his initial fame: the world of comedy.
On August 2, 2012, the celebrated comedian, Steve Harvey, hosted his final stand-up show at the glamorous MGM Grand in Las Vegas, drawing the curtain on an exceptional 27-year long career. But even as he stepped back from making people laugh, he swiftly transitioned to doing good for the community. His focus shifted to the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation, a noble initiative aimed at reaching out to young people and providing mentoring to the next generation. This immediately began post his retirement from comedy, underlining his commitment to uplifting those who need it the most.
Learning From His Pitfalls
Steve Harvey isn’t just about humor all the time—there are aspects of his life he deeply respects and takes seriously. He’s unequivocally stated his desire to utilize his influence to encourage individuals to reach their dreams, particularly in manners where he fell short. He views his platform as a tool for aiding others to attain success, just as he has.
In his big family with seven kids, Harvey has worked hard to ensure that each of them received a university education—a path he never took. While striving to correct his past mistakes, he found himself stumbling over more errors along the journey.
Controversies, Blunders, and Miss Universe
In the year 2015, it wasn’t the humor of Harvey that was grabbing everyone’s attention – it was a mistake on live television. While he was the host of the Miss Universe beauty contest, Harvey told the audience that the new Miss Universe was Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez. But the truth was, Miss Colombia hadn’t won. She was only the second place. The true winner of the competition was Miss Philippines, Pia Alonso Wurtzbach.
Attributing the confusion to a misreading of the teleprompter, he caused a global stir. Later, he recounted the whole crisis to Us Weekly as being “the worst week of my life.” This regrettable event seemed to ripple across the globe, making it an unforgettable incident in his life.
Don’t Talk to Him
Even though folks would point out his blunder for many years to come, it didn’t really have a major impact on his professional path. Actually, he managed to stay relatively unnoticed until the spotlight shined on him again in 2017 due to a letter he had penned to those who worked on his talk show.
The note supposedly told his team not to come near him in his dressing room or the corridor, which is strange for someone who’s often seen as warm and easy to approach. Harvey stood up for the letter, he said that his staff members were using his willingness to always be available to their advantage while he was trying to accomplish his tasks, according to a report by Us Weekly. Sounds pretty uncomfortable!
Still on the Up
Despite all the mishaps, Steve Harvey’s exceptional career kept going strong. Back in 2016, he penned yet another motivational book, which he called “Leap: Take the Leap of Faith to Achieve Your Life of Abundance”. More than just a writer, in that same year, he also made waves in television. He became the host and the mastermind behind the revival of two well-loved shows – the comeback of “Showtime at the Apollo” and a new program called “Little Big Shots”.
In 2017, Harvey made a strategic move in his career by bringing all his ventures together under the new umbrella, Steve Harvey Global. Today, Harvey has shifted his everyday operations to Los Angeles with the aim of reducing his travel and to stay closer to his family. He doesn’t have to divide his time between locations anymore, which turns out to be a wise decision for both his career and personal life.
Media Mogul
In 2018, the network decided to switch things around and replace Harvey’s popular show, ‘Steve’, with a new show led by the singer Kelly Clarkson. Steve’s final show televised in 2019, which ironically is the same year the comedian dealt with yet another gaffe while presenting the Miss Universe final once again.
Nowadays, people can see Steve Harvey on multiple shows like Family Feud, Judge Steve Harvey, Family Feud Africa, and Celebrity Family Feud. He’s got quite a bit going on! And the result is impressive – as per Forbes, he has accumulated a huge net worth of $45 million due to all his numerous engagements.
From Homeless to Millionaire
Harvey has transformed his life, going from a time of homelessness to currently enjoying the fruits of his successful media enterprise. Nowadays, aside from living a joyful life with his beautiful, expanding family, he also continues to make waves in multiple television avenues. His determination is relentless, with no signs of slowing down.
The rationale behind his constant hustle is straightforward—he never intends to find himself in his past situation again. “I’m running from homelessness. I can’t ever be in that position again. If my show gets canceled, I’ve got three more. I don’t have any free time, but I have 12 jobs,” he candidly shares with People magazine. He’s actively sprinting from the possibility of ever being homeless again, ensuring he’s always got another iron in the fire just in case, showcasing an unwavering dedication to maintaining his industrious lifestyle.
Looking to the Future
Steve Harvey is now one of the big stars in daytime television, but his journey to the top wasn’t always smooth. His tough slog through the ’80s to make a name for himself in the world of comedy was no easy task. Eventually, he moved from the challenges of his early career to the bright lights and glamorous lifestyle of Hollywood. Without a doubt, Harvey has made a distinct mark in the entertainment world. His career path is filled with striking victories and a few public missteps. Throughout it all, his influence is clear for all to see.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with Steve Harvey and his loved ones as they step into the future. The charismatic TV icon has reached incredible heights, yet it’s evident that his journey isn’t over yet. We can barely contain our curiosity about where he is heading next. One thing remains certain – there’s still an abundance of laughter waiting for us all, thanks to Steve.