No matter what time of day you turn your TV on to channel surf, chances are you'll come across a show hosted by the one and only Steve Harvey.
The hardworking comedian has been at the helm of five shows at a time in past seasons — and he doesn't show any sign of slowing down. Where other entertainers would either fade away or see their ratings fall after so much time on screen, we just can't get enough of Steve's hilarious antics.
Whether he's helping guests make their lives brighter on his daytime talk show or trying to wrangle in the contestants on a game show, we always know we're in for a laugh. But how much do we know about the man behind the mustache?
Take a look below to see some of the secrets that made Steve into the charming man he is today.
Did we miss something you love about the mega-host? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
Thumbnail source: The Gospel Mission
1. His Name Isn't Really Steve
Born Broderick Stephen Harvey on January 17, 1957, he was named after Highway Patrol actor Broderick Crawford. But he apparently prefers the shortened version of his middle name.
2. He Was Raised On A Farm
Growing up in Cleveland, OH, Steve says his family relied on only the food they grew themselves, and that his summers spent in the field helped him learn the work ethic he carries with him today.
3. His Childhood Nickname Was 'Va-Va-Voom'
As cool as that sounds, he was actually dubbed by his schoolmates due to his pronounced stutter over the letter "v" while attempting to say the word "volcano." A man working at his local deli trained him to overcome the speech impediment by slowing down and saying any difficult words to himself three times before saying them out loud.
4. He Almost Became A Boxer
Like many young adults in their twenties, Steve had a long list of potential jobs, including carpet cleaner, mail carrier, and eventually training to become a boxer, before he was bit by the comedy bug.
5. He Was Homeless Before He Found Success
After gigs kept falling through in the 1980s, Steve admitted to People magazine that he ended up living out of his car while he continued to try to find steady work. He finally made a breakthrough as the master of ceremonies on Showtime at the Apollo.
6. But He's Bounced Back With Abundance
As of 2016, the talk show host's multiple hosting gigs, published books, production company, and other outlets have earned him a net worth of roughly $106 million!
7. His Talk Show Isn't The First 'Steve Harvey Show'
In fact, the daytime series is simply known as Steve Harvey, unlike the comedian's TBS series The Steve Harvey Show, which ran from 1996 to 2002 and co-starred Cedric the Entertainer.
8. Ellen Had To Talk Him Into A Job
Now a huge hit, Steve wasn't so keen on hosting Little Big Shots, given his already full schedule of projects. A phone call from Ellen, where she happened to drop just how much he'd see on his paycheck, changed his mind.
9. He Started His Own Dating Website
On top of helping those unlucky with love on his own show by setting them up for dates on stage, he also partially owns a dating site called Delightful, which includes videos of him doling out his sage advice.
10. He Plans His Path With Vision Boards
This project of focusing on the visual image of your goals seems to be one of the secrets to his phenomenal success. He even has tips for creating your own on his website!
11. He Never Saw Himself As A Game Show Host
In a recent interview with Adweek, Steve admitted that when he was first asked to host variety and game show programs, it wasn't something he saw himself ever doing. However, when they agreed to allow him his own sense of humor, the key to his helming five shows at a time, everything fell into place.
Did we miss your favorite fact about the funny man? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
