Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Harvey was discovered by director Paul Morrissey in 1984. Morrissey cast Harvey in two of his films Mixed Blood (1985) and Spike of Bensonhurst (1988).
After signing with an agent, Harvey moved to Los Angeles where he continued acting and also began modeling. He appeared in a layout for Life magazine featuring Madonna photographed by Bruce Weber, and worked for Calvin Klein.
In 1990, he landed the role of Sodapop Curtis in the Fox series The Outsiders. After the series ended after one season, Harvey guest starred on Twin Peaks, followed by a role in the Gus Van Sant film My Own Private Idaho. He made his last onscreen appearance in 1996 with a role in drama God's Lonely Man.
During the making of My Own Private Idaho, Harvey began using heroin. After several stints in jail and attempts to get clean, he died of a heroin and cocaine overdose on April 10, 1998 at the Hotel Barbizon in Los Angeles at age 30.
