He was encouraged to perform at an open mic comedy night in 1985. Harvey’s entry into comedy was a leap of faith. Harvey honors that promise by thanking God at the end of every show and by sharing his gratitude with the audience. Before Harvey achieved his stardom, he made a promise to God that if he made it, he would thank Him and spread the word. Steve’s family didn’t have much, but their lives were full with their faith. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and remains a Cleveland man at heart. He is the son of Jesse Harvey, a coal miner, and his wife, Eloise Vera Harvey, a Sunday school teacher. Steve Harvey was born January 17, 1957, in Welch, West Virginia, as Broderick Stephen Harvey.
His unrelenting pursuit formed one of Harvey’s life philosophies: “You have to dream big and believe that you will succeed.”
He held fast to his dream, against all odds for a stuttering African American boy in the 1960s. Beginningsįrom a young age Steve Harvey knew that he wanted to be on TV. Emmy® Award-winning entertainer, radio personality, motivational speaker, New York Times best-selling author, businessman, and philanthropist.
