Joy Behar has experienced two marriages and embraced the roles of motherhood and grandmotherhood. The television host is currently married to a man several years her junior, with whom she maintained a decades-long relationship before formalizing their union.
As a veteran co-host of the daytime talk show “The View,” Behar has been a part of the original panel since 1997. Despite a brief hiatus in 2013, she returned to the show in 2015.
Reflecting on her temporary departure, Behar expressed relief, stating, “I was glad to be fired. I basically was sick of the show at that point for some reason, I don’t even remember why.”
The comedian was unsure why the network let her go for two years, asserting it was a “very stupid” decision on their part. Nevertheless, Behar continued to be a prominent figure on the highly-watched daytime show, sharing in an October 2022 interview that retirement was not on her agenda.
Behar, who celebrated her 81st birthday on “The View” in October 2023, mentioned during the episode that she prefers not to make a fuss about her special day.
Acknowledging her age, she humorously commented, “I can’t get excited. I’m just glad I’m alive, okay? You know, you get to a point where you wake up in the morning and say, ‘I’m still here, my God.’”
In addition to marking her birthday milestone, Behar celebrated her wedding anniversary with her second husband two months prior.
Married to retired school teacher Steve Janowitz since August 2011, the couple opted for coordinated outfits during their wedding.
Appearing on “ABC News” the following month, Behar jokingly responded to questions about feeling like a bride, stating, “Do I look like a blushing bride to you? It’s been 29 years.” Regarding the honeymoon phase, she denied it, emphasizing that after many years together, the marriage felt like doing what needed to be done.
When asked about the secret to their enduring relationship, Behar highlighted their lack of sensitivity to remarks and Janowitz’s sense of humor. She didn’t disclose her comedian identity to him in the early stages of their relationship.
Behar emphasized the importance of how they perceive each other and admitted that they waited to marry for emotional and legal support as they age.
Janowitz, seven years Behar’s junior, has been married to the TV star for 12 years. The couple shares a humorous perspective on their age difference, with Behar mentioning that “at this point, it’s really paying off.”
Beyond her roles as a wife and TV personality, Behar is a mother to one daughter, Eve Behar, born in November 1970, from her previous marriage to television director Joseph Behar. Eve, now a mother herself, introduced her son, Luca, during an appearance on “Anderson Live” in November 2011.
Behar proudly discussed her grandson’s intelligence and chattiness at just eight months old. In August 2023, Eve shared glimpses of her art opening on Instagram, featuring Luca, now a teenager, posing alongside his parents and grandparents, including a special shot with his beloved grandmother, Joy Behar.