Joy Behar
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| Joy Behar | |
|---|---|
| Name | Joy Behar |
| Caption | Behar in 2012 |
| Birth name | Josephine Victoria Occhiuto |
| Birth date | 7 October 1942 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Queens College (BA), Stony Brook University (MA) |
| Occupation | Television host, comedian, actress, writer |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | Joe Behar (m. 1965; div. 1981), Steve Janowitz (m. 2011) |
Joy Behar is an American comedian, television host, actress, and writer, best known as a co-host of the daytime talk show The View. A native of Brooklyn, she began her career in stand-up comedy before becoming a fixture on the ABC program, where her sharp, liberal commentary has made her a prominent figure in American television. Behar has also hosted her own talk shows on CNN and HLN, authored books, and appeared in films and on Broadway.
Early life and education
Josephine Victoria Occhiuto was born in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn to Italian-American parents. She attended Lafayette High School before enrolling at Queens College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. Behar later received a Master of Arts in English education from Stony Brook University and briefly worked as a high school English teacher in Lindenhurst.
Career
Behar's entertainment career began in the late 1970s with stand-up comedy performances in New York City clubs. She gained wider recognition as a regular guest on programs like Good Morning America and The Late Show with David Letterman. In the 1990s, she hosted The Joy Behar Show on WWOR-TV and made acting appearances on shows such as Baby Boom and Homicide: Life on the Street. Behar also performed in the Broadway production of The Food Chain and authored the book Joy Shtick: Or What Is the Existential Vacuum and Does It Come with Attachments?.
The View
Behar joined the original panel of the ABC daytime talk show The View at its inception in 1997, created by Barbara Walters. She became known for her outspoken liberal viewpoints, frequently debating conservative co-hosts like Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Meghan McCain. Behar left the program in 2013 but returned in 2015. Her tenure on the show has included notable interviews with figures such as Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden, and she has been part of the ensemble that won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Informative.
Personal life
In 1965, she married college sweetheart Joe Behar, taking his surname professionally; they divorced in 1981 and have one daughter. Behar married builder Steve Janowitz in a ceremony officiated by New York Supreme Court Judge Judy Harris Kluger in 2011. A longtime resident of Manhattan, she is an advocate for Planned Parenthood and LGBT rights, and has been open about her atheist worldview. Behar is also a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed and treated in 2009.
Public image and legacy
Regarded as a trailblazer for women in comedy and political commentary, Behar is frequently described as a "comedian's comedian" with a quick, acerbic wit. She has been recognized with a GLAAD Media Award for her advocacy and was inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Media outlets like The New York Times and Variety have noted her influence in shaping the format of daytime talk through candid, issue-driven discussion. Her persona remains defined by a blend of Brooklyn authenticity and unapologetic progressive commentary.
Category:American television personalities Category:American comedians Category:1942 births Category:Living people