STEVE HARRIS

Name, Age & Origins

Steve J. Harris was born on December 3, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. As of 2025, he is 59 years old . He was raised by his parents—his father, John Henry Harris, worked as a bus driver, and his mother, Mattie, managed the household—alongside his younger brother, fellow actor Wood Harris .

Early Life & Education

Steve thrived athletically during his school years at St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, initially aiming for a career in football. However, a torn ligament in his ankle during college steered him toward the arts. He went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from Northern Illinois University in 1989 and then completed a Master of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Delaware .

Career Beginnings & Breakthrough

Steve entered entertainment in the mid-1980s, starting with a minor role in Don’t Mess With My Sister (1985). He landed small parts on shows like Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order, and featured in films such as Sugar Hill (1994) and The Rock (1996) . His big break came in 1997 when he was cast as Eugene Young on The Practice, a role he carried for all eight seasons (1997–2004) .

Awards & Recognition

For his portrayal of the sharp and ethical attorney Eugene Young, Steve received two consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He also won an NAACP Image Award in 2002 and collected multiple Image and SAG nods throughout the Practice era .

Continued TV Success

After The Practice, Steve maintained a strong TV presence. He starred in NBC's Heist (2006), played Detective Isaiah "Bird" Freeman in Awake (2012), and took recurring roles in series such as Friday Night Lights, Justified, Legends, Law & Order: Organized Crime, and BMF (where he portrays Detective Bryant) .

Noteworthy Film Roles

Beyond television, Steve’s filmography is varied: from Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) and Bringing Down the House (2003) to genre fare like Minority Report (2002), Quarantine (2008), Takers (2010), Chi-Raq (2015), and The First Purge (2018) .

Voice Work & Diverse Talents

Steve has also lent his voice to animation—most notably as Ethan Bennett/Clayface in The Batman (2004–06)—demonstrating his flexibility across live-action and voice-over roles .

Family & Personal Interests

Steve remains close to his brother Wood Harris, and family is a centrepiece of his life. While he keeps personal details private, his journey from aspiring athlete to respected actor reflects resilience, discipline, and a deep work ethic rooted in his upbringing .

Legacy & Ongoing Projects

Steve Harris has built a rich career marked by memorable courtroom intensity, strong dramatic turns, and versatile character work across film, TV, and animation. Even today, he's a main cast member on series like BMF (2021–present) and continues to deliver compelling performances in diverse genres