Adopted his stage name from the Harvey Nichols Group.
Although he considered himself British (as well as South African), he was also quite proud of his Yiddish-Lithuanian heritage.
Appears briefly in a scene in Tony Richardson's The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), sitting in a theater audience near Trevor Howard as the crowd shouts out "Black bottle." Harvey had planned to make a film about the charge, even to the extent of bidding for the original Light Brigade bugle when it was up for auction in 1964. The dueling productions led to a lawsuit: As part of a settlement with Woodfall Films, he was cast as a Russian prince in the film but his part was cut out completely except for this very brief (and uncredited) appearance in the final cut.
Became a friend of Frank Sinatra, with whom he co-starred in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). According to Sinatra's valet , Sinatra affectionately called him "Ladyboy" in recognition of Harvey's bisexuality. In an interview about the film that was included in the original video tape recording, Sinatra expressed his sorrow that "Larry" was no longer alive.
During filming of The Alamo (1960) in late 1959, Harvey was seriously injured during a scene in which a cannon fired, recoiled and landed on his foot, breaking it in several places. According to witnesses, Harvey finished the scene (with director & actor John Wayne at his side) and collapsed in agony only after the cameras stopped rolling.
During the launching of the James Bond franchise in the early 60s, he was strongly considered for the part of Bond.
Emigrated to South Africa at the age of 5 and grew up in Johannesburg, moving to London in 1946.
First Lithuanian actor to be nominated for an Oscar.
He had a long run as King Arthur in the musical "Camelot" in Drury Lane in 1964, and was considered for the 1967 film version.
He was originally cast in Rock Hudson's role in Ice Station Zebra (1968).
His daughter, Domino Harvey, once a model, was a bounty hunter. She was found unresponsive in a bathtub in her Los Angeles home, June 27, 2005, dying that day in a hospital of an accidental overdose of the painkiller, Fentanyl, at age 35.
His daughter, Domino Harvey, was born out-of-wedlock in Belgravia, London on August 7, 1969 to Vogue model Paulene Stone. Domino was the fruit of a three-year-long affair between Harvey and Stone during his second marriage to American multi-millionaire Joan Cohn. The former Joan Perry, she was Columbia Pictures boss Harry Cohn's widow and 17 years Harvey's senior. Harvey eventually divorced Cohn and married Stone shortly before his death from stomach cancer in 1973.
His death from stomach cancer is thought to have been caused by his heavy smoking and longtime alcoholism.
In the period of 1959-1965, he appeared opposite three winners of the Best Actress Academy Award: Simone Signoret in Room at the Top (1959), Elizabeth Taylor in BUtterfield 8 (1960), and Julie Christie in Darling (1965). In that period, he also starred with Best Actress Oscar nominee Geraldine Page in Summer and Smoke (1961).
Is portrayed by Jesse Pate in Domino (2005).
Lied about his age at 14 in order to join the South African Navy.
On acting with Harvey in Walk on the Wild Side (1962), Jane Fonda later commented, "Acting opposite Harvey is like acting by yourself--only worse!".
Was cast in the film version of Jungle Fighters (1961) (1961), the hit 1959 West End play that made Peter O'Toole a stage star, as the Hollywood studio would not accept O'Toole or second-choice Albert Finney in the role that went to Harvey, who was a known quantity in films.
Was friends with Sid James until they worked on The Silent Enemy (1958), together. According to the book "A Biography Of Sid James", James was offered the role of "Chief Petty Officer Thorpe" on the recommendation of Harvey, but their friendship ended during the filming. He found Harvey to be "pompous and full of his own importance".
While a teenager, he served in the South African Army's entertainment unit during World War Two.