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Broderick Steven Steve Harvey (born January 17, 1957 in Welch, West Virginia) is an American actor, entertainer and comedian. He later moved to Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Glenville High School in 1975.
Harvey began doing stand-up comedy in the mid 1980s, eventually leading to a long stint as host of It''s Showtime at the Apollo, succeeding his friend Cedric the Entertainer in that role. His success as a stand-up comedian led to The WB network giving him his own show, The Steve Harvey Show, which ran from 1996 to 2002. While wildly 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.
Following the end of his runs on Showtime at the Apollo and The Steve Harvey Show, Harvey continued acting in some minor roles, but has become a major figure in many African-American functions and is a staple on BET. In addition, he has released an audio CD of up-and-coming hip hop and R&B artists on a record label he founded, and has 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 is divorced and has four children.
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