Right from the beginning, Steve Harvey was convinced that Marjorie Harvey was the woman meant to be his life partner.
Their initial encounter took place in 1990 at a comedy club, leading to a short-lived romance. Unfortunately, circumstances were not favorable at the time. Yet destiny had other plans. In the subsequent years, Steve and Marjorie found their way back to each other, ultimately sealing their love through marriage in 2007. This union also marked the merging of their families, which collectively includes seven children.
The Family Feud host had been married twice before, but his connection to Marjorie is unlike anything he is ever known.
“Marjorie changed the way I existed,” he told People in 2012. “I’d never been in a healthy adult relationship. I’d never been loyal, I’d never been fully respected.”
Marjorie agreed, telling People”We’re best friends. It’s the first time either of us has had someone we can talk to about everything.”
The couple has been together for more than 30 years, during which time they have become grandparents, shared many adorable moments on social media, and, most importantly, supported one another.
Steve dispelled rumours that Marjorie had cheated on him in August 2023.
“[My] marriage is fine,” he said to an audience at Invest Fest in Atlanta. “I don’t know what y’all are doin’, but find something else to do cause we fine, Lord have mercy.” Later that day, Marjorie called the rumors “foolishness and lies” in a post on Instagram.
So who is Steve Harvey’s wife? Read on to find out more about Marjorie Harvey.
She first met Steve in 1990 at a comedy club
Although Marjorie and Steve didn’t get married until 2007, the pair met years prior when the comedian was performing at a club in Memphis, Tennessee.
They discussed their first meeting during a 2018 episode of Steve’s talk show, The Steve Harvey Show. “I was late, and I thought he was gonna give me the business because he got real quiet. He was just staring at me. I thought I was going to become part of the show,” Marjorie told the audience. “He finally realized, ‘Oh, I gotta say something.’ He was, like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t know who this is, but I’m gonna marry her.’ “
While their connection was immediate, they ultimately went their separate ways after a few weeks of dating. “I knew he was The One shortly after I started [dating] him…but then he just left. Disappeared,” Marjorie told Essence in 2014.
Steve explained that he was not in a good place financially and was focused on his career at the time. “Before a man can be of use to a woman…he’s got to know who he is, what he does and how much he’s going to make,” he told the magazine.
Over a decade later, in 2005, he and Marjorie reconnected and the timing was right. Steve’s second marriage to Mary Shackelford had just ended and he was fresh off his sitcom The Steve Harvey Show.
She has Steve’s bodyguard to thank for their reunion
When Steve found himself single again in 2005, his bodyguard suggested a reunion with Marjorie. As Steve recalled to PEOPLE in 2016, “He told me, ‘Look, the only time I’ve ever seen you happy was when you were with that woman Marjorie. Now, before you go and do something stupid and marry another woman, I’m calling her.’ “
Of their second chance, Steve said, “It was like being reborn. I messed up so many times in my life. She made all the difference. When you’re happy at home, you can make a lot of things happen.”
Marjorie added, “When Steve came back into my life, it was effortless.”
She and Steve got married in 2007
The couple celebrated 16 years of marriage in Lake Como, Italy. While there, they got all dressed up for a special wedding anniversary photoshoot.
“Still going strong,” Steve captioned a video of him and his wife on Instagram.
She’s “mom” to a large blended family
Together, Marjorie and Steve have seven children who make up one large blended family. Steve shares twin daughters Brandi and Karli and son Broderick with his first wife Marcia Harvey, as well as son Wynton with Shackelford. Marjorie has three children from a previous marriage, Morgan, Jason and Lori, whom Steve legally adopted after their 2007 wedding.
Although Marjorie and Steve were ready for a new life together, their kids were a bit more hesitant about blending their families.
Marjorie had some words of encouragement, though. “When you’re dealing with a blended family, everyone is coming from a place of broken,” she told People in 2016. “We knew this was right. But I just told them, ‘Everyone is included. Everyone has access to their parents. Whatever you didn’t have before, don’t let that interfere with what you can have now.’ “
“Now,” she added, “we’re Mom and Dad to everybody.”
She’s a grandparent
In addition to their seven kids, Steve and Marjorie are also grandparents to seven grandchildren. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Steve shared that Marjorie “loves being a grandparent.” When asked if he feels the same way, the comedian answered, “Not at all.”
“I spent all my life trying to become an empty nester, I wanted my kids to go away and get out. Now they come back with more people,” Steve joked.
She runs a foundation with her husband
In 2010, Marjorie and Steve initiated The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation, a platform that aims to empower underserved communities by providing them with the necessary resources for achievement, as stated on Steve Harvey’s official website. The foundation’s central objective is to furnish young individuals with access to services that facilitate their success and foster their development as capable leaders.
One notable initiative within the foundation is Marjorie Harvey’s “Girls Who Rule the World” program. This program is geared towards helping young girls cultivate positive self-esteem, excel in their education, and realize their potential through mentoring and various resources. Marjorie plays an active and hands-on role in this program, engaging in activities such as hosting meet-ups, surprising students with scholarships, and more.
She and Steve both love fashion
Marjorie shares a deep passion for fashion, a shared interest with Steve. In a 2014 appearance on his talk show, she highlighted this connection, saying, “As you know, you and I, that’s one of the things we have in common, we both love fashion. I’ve been passionate about it all my life.” During this segment, she discussed her fashion and lifestyle blog, “The Lady Loves Couture,” which she launched in the same year.
Her Instagram account is a canvas for her fashion enthusiasm, as she frequently posts snapshots of her outfits.
Over the years, the couple has attended several fashion shows together, further highlighting their mutual interest.
Interestingly, Marjorie also had an opinion on Steve’s appearance. On The Ellen Degeneres Show, Steve shared how Marjorie encouraged him to embrace his greying beard and mustache, showcasing their affectionate dynamic.
“I was on vacation and I actually left my Just For Men [hair dye] at home ’cause I had been dying my mustache, you know, black. So I was on vacation, so I didn’t dye it and the rest of it started growing in,” he shared. “And next thing I knew I went, ‘Damn. This is either going to be sexy or I’m ugly as hell one of the two.’ “
He added of Marjorie, “My wife told me to keep it.”
She supported Steve during his Miss Universe debacle
While hosting the Miss Universe pageant in 2015, Steve accidentally announced Miss Colombia (Ariadna Gutierrez) as the winner, when Miss Philippines (Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach) had actually won after misreading his cue card.
“I feel horrible for the two countries. I feel horrible for the fans. It was a mistake,” he told reporters after the show. “The dishonorable thing would be to just leave it like it was. It didn’t deserve to happen that way, but it happened from an honest mistake.”
Marjorie had her husband’s back and was quick to offer him some support. “You are a Stand Up Man and A True Class Act the way you went back out on the stage on live TV and took full responsibility alone,” she wrote on Instagram. “I am so proud to be your wife! I love you.”
Later reflecting on the “devastating” mix-up during an interview with PEOPLE in 2016, Steve said Marjorie’s support encouraged him to move forward. “[She said,] ‘I’m proud of the way you handled it. Don’t beat yourself up,’ ” he shared.
She has a special relationship with her parents
“Marjorie’s strong bond with her parents is evident through her Instagram posts. Numerous pictures depict her enjoying quality moments with them. These snapshots capture heartwarming instances, such as surprising her mother for her 80th birthday, sharing cozy moments in their bed, and commemorating their 60th anniversary. Her parents’ enduring marital relationship serves as a significant source of inspiration for Marjorie, and she affectionately labels them as “Goals For Real.”
In January 2020, Marjorie opened up about her dad’s Parkinson’s and dementia diagnoses as well as how the family was coping with the news. “My dad was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s and dementia. Steve, my [mom] and I have been researching some things to keep the brain and body active,” she wrote alongside a video of her and her dad playing a game together. “We are all committed to fighting this. Let’s go, Daddy … my hero … my heart … my example of what a real man is. I love you.”
She’s a thrill-seeker
Marjorie went skydiving in Dubai in February 2023. On Instagram, she described the “amazing experience.” She had previously uploaded pictures from shark-feeding excursions in the tropics and ice car racing in Aspen, Colorado.