Steve Harvey is a media conglomerate personified in a man whose career began doing stand-up comedy in the mid-1980s. His success as a stand-up comedian eventually led to a long stint as host of It’s Showtime at the Apollo. His stand-up success has also led to multiple TV shows and movies, serving various roles on some projects acting, hosting, writing and producing, and his career has continued to flourish, becoming a top-rated radio host, fashion entrepreneur, best-selling author, popular game show host on Family Feud, and 2013 People’s Choice Award winner as “Favorite New Talk Show Host” for his new daytime show Steve Harvey. Harvey just recently renewed deals in January 2013 for his daytime show and radio show.
On television, in addition to a seven-year stint hosting Apollo, he starred in ABC’s Me and The Boys, the WB shows The Steve Harvey Show for six seasons and Steve Harvey’s Big Time Challenge for two seasons. In 2012 Harvey also celebrated his 12th year as the only host of BET’s Celebration of Gospel. Harvey has also hit the big screen in movies such as Love Don’t Cost a Thing, You Got Served, Johnson Family Vacation, Madea Goes to Jail, and the #1 box office smash Think Like A Man, which was released in 2012 and adapted from his #1 book.
Throughout his award-winning career, Harvey has never lost sight of his passion for stand-up comedy, touring the U.S and Canada. In 1997 he toured as one of the Kings of Comedy alongside Cedric The Entertainer, the late Bernie Mac and D.L. Hughley. The tour’s immediate success led to the taping of one of the most successful comedy films in history – The Original Kings of Comedy – directed by Spike Lee. In 2006 he released Don’t Trip…He Ain’t Through With Me Yet, a clean and family-friendly DVD, unlike any he had ever done before. Due to overwhelming demand for his original style of tell-it-like-it-is comedy, Harvey released the comedy special Still Trippin, on DVD in 2008 to critical success. In 2011 he paired up with Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin, creating the first-ever Steve Harvey and Kirk Franklin Comedy Gospel Tour. Later that year, Harvey kicked off his final stand-up comedy tour, where he hung up his touring days with his final stand-up show (Steve Harvey’s Grand Stand-Up Finale on Pay-Per-View) in Las Vegas on August 2, 2012.
Currently Steve Harvey is the host of the long-running syndicated game show Family Feud, in his third season as host. Since Season 14 of the show premiered on September 10, 2012, Family Feud has been soaring to record-high ratings. Harvey’s memorable reactions and hilarious rapport with the competing families have rejuvenated the series and been widely praised, with ratings continuing to surge and smash records since his debut as the new host in September 2010.
On September 4, 2012, Steve Harvey debuted his new syndicated daytime show Steve Harvey, a one-hour daily program combining Harvey’s humorous “everyday man” perspective and covering relationships, parenting, the workplace and a range of other topics discussing everyday life with the guests and audience. Produced by Endemol USA and executive produced by Harvey, business partner Rushion McDonald, and showrunner Alex Duda, Harvey’s talk show is airing in 98% of the country, and being distributed by NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution. A continuing hit with audiences, Harvey recently won the 2013 People’s Choice Award honors as “Favorite New Talk Show Host” and the show was renewed for a second season in national syndication.
In September 2000, Harvey created the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, which currently airs Monday – Friday, 6 – 10 a.m. EST with nearly 70 radio stations and approximately 6 million weekly listeners. Syndicated by Premiere Networks since 2005, the #1 rated morning show is the only Urban Syndicated Radio Network that is broadcasting in 8 of the Top 10 radio markets. With the show’s continued growth, Harvey recently renewed and extended his relationship with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, to continue the show’s expansion internationally as well as work on a variety of joint ventures in programming development, events and more, and also serve as a spokesperson for the company.
The Steve Harvey Morning Show has also allowed him to share relationship advice with his listeners through the “Strawberry Letter” segment, where he responds to relationship questions. This segment’s popularity led to a book deal with HarperCollins. His first book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment, was released on January 27, 2009. Harvey’s must-have guide gave women the upper hand on dating with the inside scoop on the male mind, understanding his game, and anticipating his moves, with the widely-acclaimed book staying on the New York Times Best Sellers List for 64 weeks. Selling over 2.8 million copies worldwide thus far, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man has hit #1 in the U.S., Dubai, Malaysia, South Africa and other places, been translated into over 30 languages, and adapted into a major motion picture by Screen Gems Pictures.
Released on April 20, 2012, the hotly-anticipated Screen Gems/Sony Pictures Entertainment film Think Like A Man quickly made box office history, with audiences packing in sold-out showings at theaters across the country, unseating The Hunger Games’ month-long box office reign at #1. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Michael Ealy, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Meagan Good, Romany Malco, Jerry Ferrara and more, Think Like A Man topped the box office as the #1 movie in America its opening weekend, and remained #1 at the box office for a second consecutive weekend, to become the highest-grossing April release with over $60 million in ten days. Produced by Rainforest Films’ Will Packer, who also collaborated with Screen Gems on such hits as Stomp The Yard, This Christmas, and Takers, Harvey is also one of the executive producers and appears as himself in the movie. The Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man book was also re-released in paperback, and has hit #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List again.
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man’s runaway success added another dimension to his life and career, as a sought-after advisor sharing the male perspective. Extending his role, Harvey made multiple appearances on Good Morning America as a contributor on family and relationships and had a monthly relationship column in Essence Magazine; he also launched the dating site LocateYourLove.com.
On December 7, 2010, HarperCollins released Harvey’s highly-anticipated second book, Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man, which quickly became another best seller, debuting at #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Laying out a 3-Tier, CIA style of questioning that will leave men no choice but to cut to the chase and deliver the truth, Harvey also provides dating tips Decade-by-Decade, providing insight into what men are looking for in a mate, and the changes that come, whether you’re in your 20s or a senior entering the dating pool again. Straight Talk, No Chaser was also re-released in paperback on August 28, 2012.
The popularity of the Steve Harvey Morning Show and the inspirational advice, comedy segments and book also landed Steve Harvey and his co-hosts on the CENTRIC TV network with The Steve Harvey Project, which premiered November 15, 2010. Receiving rave reviews, The Steve Harvey Project, an hour-long show that aired nightly, captured the fast-paced morning show each day with new and beloved comedy skits, celebrity interviews, the Strawberry Letter, in-studio contestants for Harvey’s weekly singing talent show, and the weekly Locate Your Love dating segment.
Long dedicated to philanthropy, Steve Harvey believes that “dreaming is more important than anything.” Harvey, together with his wife Marjorie, continue their unending pursuit to further uplifting, educational opportunities with young men and women through The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation. As a partner with Walt Disney World, Harvey has created the annual Disney’s Dreamers Academy, a program mentoring 100 teenage boys and girls, inspiring and exposing them to a number of job skills and career opportunities. He launched The Steve Harvey Mentoring Program for Young Men in 2009, a camp for teenage boys from around the country who are without fathers, to share insights and skills to navigate manhood. Hosting 100 boys annually in Dallas, Harvey has continued to expand the initiative, hosting satellite programs in additional cities. Together, with the Steve Harvey Mentoring Program for Young Men and the Girls Who Rule the World Mentoring Weekend, The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation has reached over 1000 boys and girls in total so far. Honored by the Trumpet Awards in January 2010 with their highest honor, the Pinnacle Award, Harvey continues to break new ground in creating and supporting programs that will make a difference in the lives of everyday people. For all that he continues to do in the community Harvey was named Humanitarian of the Year at the 2011 BET Awards.
2012 marked the 10th Anniversary for the Neighborhood Awards, the popular awards show honoring community businesses and leaders in the nation. A four-day event created by Harvey and producing partner Rushion McDonald to uplift the community, the Ford Neighborhood Awards is their biggest event every year, giving recognition to local businesses, religious establishments, and community leaders serving their neighborhoods, and will now be known as the Neighborhood Awards.
While working on all of these projects, Harvey has not lost sight of his passion for fashion and continues to expand his clothing and accessories brand, The Steve Harvey Collection, providing quality choices for men and young boys to look sharp. Never to rest on his laurels, Steve Harvey expanded his highly successful clothing line when he launched The Steve Harvey Women’s Collection with K&G on August 21, 2012.
His multi-faceted success has led to appearances on numerous morning, talk, news and late-night shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Nightline, Good Morning America, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tyra Banks Show, The Early Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The View, CNN, Piers Morgan Tonight and Larry King Live, and he has also guest-hosted Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
Born in West Virginia, Harvey was raised in Ohio the youngest of five children. A dedicated husband and father, together with his wife Marjorie they are parents to seven children ranging in age from teens to twenties. With a wide range of fans from kids to adults of all ages, whether reaching people as a comedian, radio personality, author, TV host, actor, entrepreneur or philanthropist, Harvey remains true to making personal connections through faith, uplifting words and actions, and everyday life, all while sharing laughs and good times worldwide. Steve Harvey, well-known for his side-splitting comedy, has broken the mold, reinvented himself, and is widely known for his savvy business sense, and genuine passion for his family and helping others. This is a man that lives life to its fullest, thanks God for every new day, and always believes in the power of a dream – the future shows no signs of slowing down in the life of Steve Harvey.
