Mary Lee Harvey is a figure often in the spotlight, known mainly as Steve Harvey’s ex-wife. She worked as a make-up artist, has a son named Wynton, and her story includes legal battles and separation drama. But behind the headlines, there’s more to her life that many people don’t know.
Guess what? Her story isn’t all tabloid material. When you dig into the verified details—her birth date, early days, career path—you’ll discover a woman shaped by real challenges, family, and public scrutiny. You’ll notice things about her that go beyond rumors and reveal the person Mary Lee truly is.
In this article we share what we know for sure: her full name, real name, childhood, career journey, personal life, and other fascinating facts. You’ll see how her life unfolded before fame, what she achieved, and the impact she’s made. Let’s dive in.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Lee Harvey |
| Real Name | Mary Lee Shackleford (also spelled Shackelford in some records) |
| Date of Birth | October 20, 1960 |
| Age (2025) | 65 years old |
| Birthplace | Texas, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Not officially confirmed (reported as Christian in some sources) |
| Profession | Make-up artist |
| Famous For | Second wife of Steve Harvey |
| Marriage | Married Steve Harvey (1996–2005) |
| Children | One son, Wynton Harvey (born July 18, 1997) |
| Height / Weight | Not verified |
| Body Measurements | Not verified |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
| Social Media | No verified public accounts |
| Current Status | Alive (as of 2025) |
Early Life and Education
Full name
Her name appears in many public records and media as Mary Lee Harvey. Some records list her surname as Shackleford (or variations like Shackelford).
Real name
Her birth surname is commonly reported as Mary Lee Shackleford (spellings vary). No credible record shows a different real name beyond those variations.
Date of birth
She was born on October 20, 1960. Multiple biography sites consistently report this date.
Childhood
She grew up in Texas, United States. Little is documented about her childhood activities, hobbies or exact city beyond “Texas.” She kept a low profile in early years.
Family background
Public sources do not reliably record her parents’ names or occupations. She has maintained privacy around her early family life. Her most publicly known family connection is her son Wynton Harvey, born to Steve Harvey.
School / university
There are no confirmed records of her primary school, high school, or university attended. Media and biographies do not list educational institutions or degrees with verification.
Career Journey
Before Fame
Before becoming known to the public, Mary Lee worked as a make-up artist. This trade is her primary identified professional role in reliable sources.
Early career
Her early career likely involved smaller jobs in the beauty or personal care field. No public record shows major brands, campaigns, or clients in her early portfolio.
Breakthrough
Her public breakthrough came through her relationship and marriage with Steve Harvey in 1996, and the media attention surrounding that marriage. Her visibility increased because of that connection rather than for any major professional project.
Peak years
From around 1996 to 2005, Mary Lee received the most public attention due to her marriage, motherhood, and their eventual divorce in 2005. During those years she was often in entertainment and news media coverage, largely about family dynamics.
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Physical Appearance
Age
As of 2025, Mary Lee Harvey is 65 years old, based on her birth in 1960.
Height
No verifiable public source confirms her exact height. Rumors exist, but no reliable record.
Weight
Her weight is not documented in authoritative sources.
Body measurement
No verified measurements (such as bust, waist, hips) are publicly confirmed.
Physical attributes
She is known to have African-American ethnicity, medium to dark complexion, and features consistent with public photos: dark hair, often styled. Specific details like eye color are not confirmed in verified public records.
Major Achievements
Awards
There’s no documented evidence of Mary Lee Harvey winning industry awards for her work as a make-up artist or in any other field in verified public records.
Records
She does not hold known public records (e.g. Guinness, industry firsts) according to reliable sources.
Notable Works
Mary Lee’s most notable public role is her position in Steve Harvey’s life: she is his second wife, mother to his son, participant in public legal disputes. These are documented in court filings and media.
Contributions
Her contributions mostly appear in personal and family contexts: motherhood of Wynton Harvey (born July 18, 1997), involvement in legal matters that have highlighted issues of divorce, custody, public disclosure.
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Personal Life
Nationality
Mary Lee Harvey is American, born in the United States (Texas).
Ethnicity
She is African-American, as repeatedly described in biographical sources.
Religion
Her religion is not conclusively documented. Some sources suggest she is Christian, but there is no verified interview or primary statement confirming her faith.
Relationships
- Married to Steve Harvey from 1996 until 2005.
- They have one son, Wynton Harvey, born July 18, 1997.
- After divorce there have been legal disputes over custody and other matters.
Net worth
There is no verified source for Mary Lee’s net worth. Speculative figures exist in tabloids, but none that meet rigorous verification.
Hobbies
Public sources do not report confirmed hobbies. She has kept her personal interests out of the spotlight.
Social media presence
She does not appear to maintain a high-profile public social media presence under verified accounts. Most information about her comes via media coverage of her legal and family affairs.
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Interesting Facts
- She filed civil legal motions and lawsuits after her divorce, some alleging mistreatment and demanding public accountability. These actions drew media attention.
- Her son Wynton Harvey was born in 1997 and is Steve Harvey’s child from their marriage.
- Media sources often mis-spell her surname; “Shackleford” vs “Shackelford” appear in different records.
- She has stayed largely out of entertainment projects despite being connected to a major public figure.
- She has been mentioned in news reports in relation to court filings in 2018 and other years, but she has avoided major public interviews.
- No credible record places her in adult film databases (IAFD) under her names.
Legacy or Influence
Mary Lee Harvey’s legacy lies mostly in how her life illustrates the complex interplay between private life, celebrity, and public scrutiny. She reminds people that behind headlines are real people with children, legal and emotional struggles. Her story resonates especially in conversations about celebrity divorce, custody rights, and how ex-partners navigate post-marriage visibility. Many who follow Steve Harvey’s public life also focus on how Mary Lee’s narratives influenced how media covers celebrity private lives.
FAQs
What is Mary Lee Harvey’s birth name?
Her birth name is reported as Mary Lee Shackleford (or variants like Shackelford in some sources).
When was Mary Lee Harvey born?
She was born on October 20, 1960, in Texas, United States.
How many children does Mary Lee Harvey have?
She has one son, Wynton Harvey, born July 18, 1997.
What did Mary Lee Harvey do for a living?
She worked as a make-up artist. Her public notoriety largely comes from her marriage and related legal matters.
Is Mary Lee Harvey married now?
Verified sources do not indicate she remarried after her divorce from Steve Harvey in 2005.
What is Mary Lee Harvey’s net worth?
There is no reliable, public verification of her net worth.
Conclusion
Mary Lee Harvey lives a life more complicated than media headlines suggest. She is more than “Steve Harvey’s ex-wife”; she is a mother, a make-up artist, and someone who navigated legal and emotional storms under bright lights. Though many details of her life—education, achievements in her career—remain not fully documented, what we do know paints a picture of real person coping with real challenges.
Her story shows that public lives often hide private truths. It reminds us that verified facts matter more than gossip. If you found this article helpful, please share, comment, or subscribe for more real-life biographies and stories people often don’t hear about.
Read more about Mary Lee Harvey on Famous Birthdays