When Steve Harvey married Marjorie Bridges, he went from being a father of four to a dad of seven. Becoming a stepfather was not without its fair share of struggle. When the comedian’s stepson appeared on his talk show, he was brought to tears by his powerful message.
Humble Beginnings
Steve Harvey is widely considered one of the most influential and popular celebrities in America. Today, the comedian, actor and author is reportedly worth $100 million. Despite his success, Steve’s journey has not always been an easy one…

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Hard Work Was A Must
Born in West Virginia on January 17, 1957, Harvey came from truly humble beginnings. The son of a local coal miner, the future-star knew that finding his place in the world would be a difficult endeavor. Steve was no stranger to the value of hard work, he worked multiple jobs in his youth. He found work as a carpet cleaner and mail man in order to make ends meet.

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Homeless And Penniless
When Harvey first ventured into stand-up comedy, he was actually at his lowest point. Harvey was living in his car between gigs and washing in public restrooms. In 1990, he landed his big break when he made it to the final of the Second Annual Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search. Shortly after his appearance on the competition, he became the host of late-night series Showtime at the Apollo. And the rest, as they say, is history!

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Conquering Comedy World
After conquering the world of comedy, Harvey turned his sights on acting. He landed starring roles in TV shows like Me and the Boys and later, The Steve Harvey Show, which had a successful run until 2002. In 2010, Harvey was named as the new host of the wildly popular quiz show, Family Feud. Two years after taking on the role, Family Feud would become the second most-viewed daytime show.

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Made It
Harvey is now best known for his self-titled talk shows, Steve Harvey ran from 2012 to 2016, and the follow-up show, Steve, would replace it in 2017. The show features a mix of celebrity and human interest stories all showed with its many viewers with Harvey’s warm and compassionate signature sense of humor.

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Emotional Turn
In one 2015 episode of Steve Harvey, the comedian’s family appeared on the daytime talk show. The episode would be an emotional journey for both the host and the show’s audience. The television star has been married to Marjorie Bridges since 2007, together the couple parent seven children.

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Family Ties
Harvey is the father of twin daughters, Karli and Brandi, from his previous marriage with first Marcia Harvey. He also has two sons, Wynton and Broderick, with his second wife, Mary Shackelford. Marjorie has three children from her own previous relationship, Lori, Jason and Morgan.

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Not Always Easy
With unconditional love and unrelenting commitment, the couple appear to have successfully brought their families together, but the union was not easy. In 2016 Harvey told PEOPLE magazine that he’d warned his kids, “Look, you don’t like it? Deal with it. I don’t need y’all’s permission.” He was in love and determined to share a life with Marjorie.

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Keeping Feelings To Himself
The seven children accepted their parents’ decision and soon became part of one large, blended family. Despite appearances, it seemed that Marjorie’s young son, Jason, had kept his true feelings about Harvey to himself. His thoughts would be shared with the world when he appeared on his stepfather’s show in 2015.

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Surprise Show
In celebration of the host’s birthday, all seven of his children and his wife surprised him with an appearance on Steve Harvey. During the appearance, each family member shared a memory or touching anecdote that they had of their beloved dad, stepdad and husband.

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Recalling Memories
Harvey’s daughter, little Karli, recalled a particularly memorable Christmas when she and Brandi were riding their new bikes around the family’s dining room table. Marjorie’s daughter, Morgan, gave a heartwarming retelling of how Harvey had given her away on her wedding day. Broderick remembered how his father had mischievously given him his first cigar.

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Serious Turn
When it was Jason’s turn to speak, things took a surprising emotional turn. The room fell silent. “You took my mother”, Jason began, with tears in his eyes…

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Audience Shocked
The audience were quiet with anticipation. The camera panned to show Harvey’s face. The actor looked anxious to discover his stepson’s next words. He knew the family transition had been particularly difficult for Jason.

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Unexpected Answer
Jason took a breath and continued, saying, “But you gained a whole lot more with that,” he said, referring to himself and his sisters. It seems that Harvey would relish his new role as stepdad. He would love these children as if they were his very own.

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Emotional
Growing more emotional with every word, Jason continued, “You gave me your last name, and that’s the unthinkable.” He also added, “My father, you know, he did what he could, but he wasn’t there. And you stepped in and you gave me that.”

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Unable To Speak
As Harvey listened to Jason speak, the actor became overcome with emotion. The host’s eyes brimmed with tears. He bowed his head humbly as his lips quivered. The most moving part of his stepson’s speech was yet to come.

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What More To Come?
Concluding his heartfelt tribute to Harvey, Jason shared, “If only you knew the true amount of love that I have for you… I need for you to know that now.” And he wasn’t quite finished. “It don’t get no better than you, Dad. You it.” The audience, visibly touched by the display of emotion, erupted into wild applause.

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Harvey’s Reaction
If there is anyone who understands the value of a support system, of a family who will love and encourage you through life’s most trying times, it’s Harvey. The actor regained his composure and would respond with his own touching words.

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Quite The Reply
Harvey said, “I ain’t working for me. I’m working for them. I’ve got four full-time jobs for them.” Addressing his seven children, he added, “When I’m done, I want you all to have remembered that somebody cared more about you than himself. And I want you to care more about someone else than yourself.”

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Defend You Until I Die
The actor concluded, “I will defend your honor until I die. I love all of you.” The audience was silent once again, captivated by Steve’s touching words. “This is what it is for me. This is the greatest moment I’ve ever had. I’m very proud to be your father.”

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Number One Job Is His Family
While millions of viewers know Harvey as one of America’s most-loved television personalities, as it turns out, entertainment isn’t his number one job. He is first and foremost a father. The love of his wife and adoring children mean more to him than every penny in his bank account.

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Audience Applaud
With the conclusion of the tender exchange between father and son, the audience gave a standing ovation. Amidst all the negativity spread throughout the world’s media today, it seems the audience was in need of a reminder that love, positivity, compassion and selflessness are all still alive and well.

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Aim Of The Game
The object of Family Feud is for participants to guess the most popular responses to survey questions posed to 100 random members of the public. Two sets of family teams compete against one another to win prizes and money for their answers. It seems there is no better family man to host such a show!

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Different Kind Of Public Attention
Harvey has given TV audiences countless laughs and heartfelt moments throughout the show’s run. Steve bought his own distinctive style to the small screen. He interacts with each family member with a warmth that reflects his own capacity for compassion. Alongside his TV work, Steve is a dedicated patron to numerous charities.

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Hustler
Harvey himself is no stranger to acts of charity. Back in the 1980s, when Harvey was still finding his feet, he relied on the kindness of other’s to get by. This man is truly example of what it means to pay it forward.
