Harvey began doing stand-up comedy in the early 1990s, eventually leading to a long stint as host of It's Showtime at the Apollo, picking up where his friend Cedric the Entertainer left off. His success as a stand-up comedian led to The WB network giving him his own show, the highly-rated 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.

In addition, Harvey hosted his own radio morning radio show, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, syndicated under Radio One, Inc. broadcasting company, from September 2000 till May 2005. The Los Angeles-based show, although fairly successful in the L.A. market itself, was not as successful in its national syndication efforts as either Harvey or Radio One had hoped it would be. Ultimately, the show aired only in L.A. on KKBT, and in Dallas on KBFB, with Harvey splitting his time between the Dallas and L.A. studios. As a result, Harvey and Radio One decided to part ways shortly before his contract expired.

In September 2005, Harvey signed a joint syndication deal with Premiere Radio Networks and Inner City Broadcasting Corporation for a new incarnation of The Steve Harvey Morning Show; the show is based out of WBLS in New York and counts Clear Channel-owned WMXD-FM in Detroit among its affiliates.

Harvey is divorced and has four children.