Behar was born on October 7, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. She went to Queen’s College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. Behar also has a Master of Arts degree in English education from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Behar originally began a career in teaching in New York City, but decided to pursue comedy professionally shortly after nearly dying during the birth of her only daughter. It wasn’t long before she received bookings at famous New York clubs such as Caroline’s and Catch a Rising Star. Her conversational stand-up comic routines made her an instant hit with her audiences. She went on to win three MAC Awards and a CableACE Award.
When Behar joined The View, she originally only appeared on the days when Barbara Walters was off. When she became a regular co-host she began to host the segment Hot Topics and Joy’s Comedy Corner, in which she presents up-and-coming comedians. Other hosts on The View include Rosie ODonnell (who replaced Star Jones in 2006) and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Meredith Viera was also previously a co-host.
Behar appeared as Helga in ten episodes of the television series Baby Boom in 1988 to 1989. Other television shows she has appeared on include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Real Time with Bill Maher, Live with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, and The Late Show with David Letterman. In 2006 she appeared in the eighth season of Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown. She played for the fund for UNICEF and finished in fourth place.
Behar has appeared in a number of films including a guest appearance on The Stepford Wives, This is My Life, and Manhattan Murder Mystery. She has also appeared in theater productions such as The Food Chain and The Vagina Monologues.
In January of 1991 she was nominated by TV Guide as a "Personality of the Year" at the Third Annual TV Guide Awards. In 2000 she won the Gracie Allen Tribute Award form the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television, and the New York City Public Advocate's Special Advocate Award for her outstanding friendship to the gay community. In 2001 she won the Safe Horizon Champion Award.
In 1999 Behar published a book of humorous essays and stories called Joy Shtick - Or What is the Existential Vacuum and Does It Come with Attachments? with Hyperion. In October 2001, she launched her monthly advice column "Getting Personal" in Good Housekeeping.
The year 2003 saw Behar as the spokesperson for Jenny Craig because she had lost twenty-three pounds in eleven weeks with the program. She is no longer a spokesperson for the company.
In November of 2005 Behar performed to a sold out crowd at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center as part of the annual New York Comedy Festival. In September of 2006 she released her first children’s book Sheetzucacapoopoo: My Kind of Dog illustrated by Gene Barretta.
Behar is in favor of stem-cell research and same sex marriage. She is opposed to the war on and dislikes Medicare’s coverage of Viagra prescriptions.
YUDDY
