Steve Howey Bio
Steven Michael Robert Howey, known professionally as Steve Howey, is an American actor and producer born on July 12, 1977, in San Antonio, Texas. He is best known for portraying Van Montgomery on the long-running family sitcom Reba and Kevin Ball on the acclaimed Showtime dramedy Shameless. Over a career that began in the mid-1990s, Howey has built a steady presence in both television and film, working alongside major stars and taking on roles that range from broad comedy to action-oriented drama.
Beyond his most famous television roles, Howey has appeared in a wide range of feature films, including Supercross, DOA: Dead or Alive, Bride Wars, Something Borrowed, and Day Shift. He has also continued to take on new television projects, including a role in the ABC series High Potential, demonstrating a continued willingness to expand his range as an actor. His career reflects a consistent work ethic, with a mix of mainstream studio projects, independent films, and guest appearances across popular network shows.
Early Life and Background
Steven Michael Robert Howey was born in San Antonio, Texas, and has Scottish ancestry. He grew up in Colorado, where he graduated from Green Mountain High School in Lakewood, Colorado. During his high school years, he was an active athlete, and his interest in sports would later lead him to pursue a college opportunity tied directly to his basketball abilities.
After high school, Howey attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, where he played on a basketball scholarship for two years. While he initially focused on athletics, his path began to shift when he later attended his father’s acting workshop. That experience sparked his interest in performance and ultimately encouraged him to pursue acting as a career rather than continue in sports.
His father, Bill Howey, became an important early influence in his professional life. Bill Howey wrote and directed the independent film Class (1998), in which Steve Howey starred and also served as a producer. The project was accepted into the Denver International Film Festival, giving Howey his first notable credit in the film industry and helping him transition from aspiring athlete to working performer.
Path to Acting
Howey’s first on-screen appearances came through guest roles on established television series. He appeared in the long-running medical drama ER in 1994, followed by a guest spot on The Drew Carey Show. These early roles gave him exposure to professional television sets and helped him build the experience and confidence needed for larger parts.
His breakout opportunity arrived in 2001, when he was cast as Van Montgomery on the WB/CW sitcom Reba, which starred country music artist Reba McEntire. The role made him a recognizable face on American television and allowed him to showcase his skills in a family-friendly comedy setting. He remained with Reba until the series ended its run in 2007, establishing himself as a dependable sitcom performer.
During the run of Reba, Howey also began pursuing film roles, appearing in projects such as Supercross (2005), in which he played motocross racer K.C. Carlyle, and DOA: Dead or Alive (2006), where he starred alongside actors including Jaime Pressly and Eric Roberts. These film credits helped him diversify his resume beyond television comedy.
Steve Howey Career
Early Career (1994-2000)
Steve Howey’s professional career began in 1994 with a guest appearance on the medical drama ER. He followed that with a guest role on The Drew Carey Show, marking his earliest work in network television. These small parts provided foundational experience, even if they did not yet place him in the spotlight.
In 1998, Howey took a meaningful step forward by starring in and producing the independent film Class, which was written and directed by his father, Bill Howey. The film was accepted into the Denver International Film Festival, giving Howey his first major industry credit and demonstrating his interest in working behind the camera as well as in front of it.
Breakthrough (2001-2010)
Howey’s true breakthrough came in 2001 when he was cast as Van Montgomery on the WB/CW sitcom Reba, a role he held until the show ended in 2007. His work on Reba made him a familiar television presence, and he also appeared in Reba McEntire’s music video for the song “Every Other Weekend” alongside his co-star Joanna García.
In 2005, he expanded into feature films with a starring role in Supercross, portraying the motocross racer K.C. Carlyle. He followed that with a role as Weatherby in DOA: Dead or Alive in 2006. Two years later, he starred in the 2009 comedy Bride Wars alongside Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, and also played the title role in the comedy Stan Helsing.
That same year, Howey also appeared in the web series CTRL, playing the character Ben Piller, and guest-starred on the USA Network series Psych in the episode “Thrill Seekers and Hell Raisers” as Derek Walker, a villainous river rafting guide. He reunited with Kate Hudson in the 2011 romantic comedy Something Borrowed, once again playing her love interest. In summer 2010, he joined the cast of the Showtime dramedy Shameless as Kevin Ball, a role that would define the next phase of his career and earn him a long-term, loyal audience.
Continued Work (2011-Present)
Following his success on Reba, Howey continued to build his television career, joining Shameless in 2010 and remaining a series regular throughout the show’s run. He played Kevin Ball for the duration of the series, becoming one of its most popular and recognizable cast members. He also took on guest roles in popular series such as New Girl in 2013, where he played Jax, a professional football player and love interest of Jess, played by Zooey Deschanel.
In 2017, he guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in the episode “Intent,” playing Andy “The Monster” McPherson. He appeared in the 2022 action-horror film Day Shift, further expanding his film work into genre fare. He also reunited with his Reba co-stars in 2024 on the NBC series Happy’s Place in the episode “Ho-Ho-Howey.”
More recently, he took on the role of Captain Nick Wagner on the ABC series High Potential, and in 2026, he appeared in the Amazon Prime series Off Campus, portraying Garret Graham’s father and hockey star, Phil Graham. These projects show his continued willingness to explore new characters across network and streaming platforms.
Notable Works and Milestones
Howey’s signature works include his long-running role as Van Montgomery on Reba from 2001 to 2007 and his portrayal of Kevin Ball on Shameless starting in 2010, both of which cemented his place in American television. His film work spans studio comedies such as Bride Wars and Something Borrowed, action titles like Supercross and Day Shift, and his early independent credit on Class. His return to the Reba universe in 2024, alongside his move into new series such as High Potential and Off Campus, marks a notable evolution in his career.
Steve Howey Award Nominations
Verified information regarding specific award nominations for Steve Howey is limited, and a detailed summary of nominations across his career is not currently available from the sources reviewed. As a result, individual nomination categories, awarding bodies, and years cannot be listed with confidence.
Steve Howey Awards Won
Verified information regarding specific awards won by Steve Howey is limited, and a detailed summary of wins across his career is not currently available from the sources reviewed. The independent film Class (1998), in which he starred and produced, was accepted into the Denver International Film Festival, which represents a notable early-career milestone.
Steve Howey Family
Steve Howey was born to Bill Howey, his father, who is an actor, writer, and director. Bill Howey wrote and directed the 1998 independent film Class, in which Steve starred and produced. Publicly available information about other members of Howey’s immediate family, including his mother or any siblings, is not detailed in the sources reviewed.
Personal Life
Steve Howey was married to actress and model Sarah Shahi. The couple became engaged in June 2007 while vacationing in Hawaii and married on February 7, 2009, in Las Vegas. Together they have three children. Their first child, a son, was born in July 2009, followed by twins, a daughter and a son, born in March 2015. Howey and Shahi filed for divorce in May 2020, and their divorce was finalized in January 2021.