History of Joy Behar in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: November 15, 2025

Joy Behar is an American comedian, television host, actress, and playwright, best known as a co-host on ABC's The View since its inception. She won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2009 for her work on the show. Beyond The View, Behar has hosted The Joy Behar Show on HLN, Joy Behar: Say Anything! on Current TV, and Late Night Joy on TLC. She is also the author of "The Great Gasbag: An A–Z Study Guide to Surviving Trump World."

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

October 7, 1942: Joy Behar's Birth

On October 7, 1942, Josephine Victoria "Joy" Behar was born.

1942: Joy Behar's Birth

In 1942, Josephine Victoria Occhiuto, later known as Joy Behar, was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

1964: BA in sociology from Queens College

In 1964, Joy Behar earned a BA in sociology from Queens College.

1965: Marriage to Joe Behar

In 1965, Joy Behar married college professor Joe Behar.

1966: MA in English Education

In 1966, Joy Behar received an MA in English education from Stony Brook University.

1981: Divorce from Joe Behar

In 1981, Joy Behar divorced Joe Behar.

1982: Dating Steve Janowitz

In 1982, Joy Behar began dating Steve Janowitz.

1987: Hosting 'Way Off Broadway'

In 1987, Joy Behar hosted 'Way Off Broadway', a variety talk show on Lifetime Television.

1997: Joins The View

In 1997, Joy Behar became one of the original panelists on the ABC daytime talk show, The View.

2006: Publication of Sheetzucacapoopoo: My Kind of Dog

In 2006, Joy Behar's children's book Sheetzucacapoopoo: My Kind of Dog was published.

2007: Guest Host on Larry King Live

Beginning in 2007, Joy Behar occasionally filled in as a guest host on Larry King Live.

June 11, 2009: Announcement of The Joy Behar Show

On June 11, 2009, Joy Behar announced that she would be hosting her own news/talk program on CNN's HLN, titled The Joy Behar Show, beginning in the fall of 2009.

August 2009: Daytime Emmy Award for The View

In August 2009, Joy Behar and the other co-hosts of The View won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

2009: Daytime Emmy Award Win

In 2009, Joy Behar won a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on The View.

December 15, 2011: Final Broadcast of The Joy Behar Show

On December 15, 2011, the final broadcast of The Joy Behar Show aired on HLN.

2011: Marriage to Steve Janowitz

In 2011, Joy Behar married Steve Janowitz.

2011: Role in Hall Pass

In 2011, Joy Behar portrayed the role of Dr. Lucy in the comedy film Hall Pass.

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2011: End of The Joy Behar Show

In 2011, The Joy Behar Show on HLN ended after two years.

July 18, 2012: Fill-in Host for Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer

On July 18, 2012, Joy Behar began acting as a fill-in host for Eliot Spitzer's Current TV talk show, Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer.

September 4, 2012: Premiere of Joy Behar: Say Anything!

On September 4, 2012, Joy Behar: Say Anything! premiered on the Current TV network.

2012: Joy Behar: Say Anything! Debut

In 2012, Joy Behar began hosting Joy Behar: Say Anything! on Current TV.

March 7, 2013: Announcement of Leaving The View

On March 7, 2013, it was announced that Joy Behar would be leaving The View at the end of the season.

August 9, 2013: Last Show on The View

On August 9, 2013, Joy Behar's last show on The View aired, featuring a 'This Is Your Life'-style tribute.

August 2013: Current TV Channel Switch

In August 2013, Current TV switched formats, which led to the end of Joy Behar's show, Joy Behar: Say Anything!, on that channel.

August 2013: End of Joy Behar: Say Anything!

In August 2013, Joy Behar's show Joy Behar: Say Anything! ended after Current TV was sold to Al Jazeera.

2013: Guest Co-hosting on The View

After departing from The View in 2013, Joy Behar continued to guest co-host throughout 2014 and 2015.

2014: Guest Co-hosting on The View

After departing from The View in 2013, Joy Behar continued to guest co-host throughout 2014 and 2015.

August 25, 2015: Return to The View Announced

On August 25, 2015, ABC announced that Joy Behar would return as a regular co-host on The View.

September 8, 2015: Return to The View Premiere

On September 8, 2015, Joy Behar returned as a regular co-host on The View, starting with the premiere of the 19th season.

November 4, 2015: Premiere of Late Night Joy

On November 4, 2015, Joy Behar's short-lived weekly late-night talk show, Late Night Joy, premiered on TLC.

2015: Late Night Joy Airs on TLC

In 2015, Joy Behar's weekly late-night talk show, Late Night Joy, aired on TLC.

October 27, 2017: Guest on Real Time with Bill Maher

On October 27, 2017, Joy Behar appeared as a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher.

March 13, 2018: Apology for Religious Comments

On March 13, 2018, Joy Behar issued an on-air apology for comments she made about Vice President Mike Pence's religious faith, stating that she fell short of respecting everyone's religious faith.