How many times have you wished to be in the place of a celebrity whose life seems flawless? Many people do that and ask themselves why they aren’t the ones experiencing all the glamor and glory that comes with fame. However, what many don’t realize is that not every famous person became wealthy and successful overnight or through privilege. A large number of the celebrities we admire today had to work extremely hard to earn their place. Steve Harvey, one of our favorite comedians and TV hosts, is a perfect example of that.
Today, Harvey appears to have it all—but it wasn’t always this way. His father was a coal miner who couldn’t afford to give him much while he was growing up. Steve himself worked a number of jobs over the years, including as a mailman, carpet cleaner, and even a boxer.
Eventually, he started booking stand-up comedy gigs. But instead of keeping the money for himself, he sent it to his ex-wife to support their kids. This left him with nothing—and at one point, he became homeless. “One or two gigs fell through, and suddenly I was homeless… I had nowhere to go… It was so disheartening… A week is really the maximum you can do. This was three years!” he once told PEOPLE magazine. For three years, Steve Harvey lived out of his car, taking showers at gas stations or swimming pool facilities just to stay clean.
His big break came in 1990, when he became an eligible finalist on the “Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search.” This opportunity opened doors for him, and soon after, he became the host of the late-night series “Showtime at the Apollo.”