In this image released by JET Magazine, comedian and actor Steve Harvey is shown. In a dramatic change that might surprise fans, the comedy and radio king, who turns 51 on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, shaved his head and started looking at his life in a different way. Harvey says he was inspired to change how people view men in their 50s after talking to one of his listeners. Harvey reveals his new look on stands nationwide on Monday, Jan. 21. (AP Photo/JET Magazine)
And to prove it, he shaved his head and began exercising.
In an interview in Jet magazine, the actor-comedian says he began his transformation after talking to a listener on his radio program, "The Steve Harvey Morning Show."
"The girl said to me, `Steve, you're 50 and you are over the hill,'" Harvey recalls. "I started thinking, `Wow, I am over the hill?' I said `OK, I got to do something to stop this line of thinking. Because at 50, I should not be thought of as over the hill. At 50, a man ought to feel that he is on top of the hill.'"
He hired a personal trainer and now works out five days a week at his Atlanta home.
"I had a potbelly and love handles," says Harvey, who's lost 13 pounds. "I've been telling people you can be 50 and fly, but when I took my clothes off, I wasn't looking fly."
Harvey, who celebrated his 51st birthday Thursday, defines "fly" as looking great, but also being healthy and spiritually strong.
"Shaving my head was more of a spiritual thing for me. I wanted to be free," he says.
Harvey starred with Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer in 2000's "The Original Kings of Comedy."
He shows off his new look on the cover of Jet's Jan. 28 issue, on newsstands Monday.
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On the Net:
Jet magazine:
http://www.ebonyjet.com/
Steve Harvey:
http://steveharvey.com/
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