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The Unseen History: 5 Shocking Career Pivots And Life-Changing Moments Of Young Joy Behar

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Joy Behar, the outspoken, quick-witted co-host of ABC’s *The View*, is one of television’s most recognizable personalities, known for her sharp political commentary and signature New York humor. Yet, the version of Behar that millions see today, in late December 2025, is the result of a decades-long, tumultuous journey that began far from the hot-seat of daytime television.

Her path to fame was anything but linear, involving a complete career 180, a life-altering health crisis, and a series of surprising roles—from a high school English teacher to a producer for a major morning show. The story of "young Joy Behar" is a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and chase a dream, even after turning 40.

Josephine Victoria Occhiuto: The Complete Biography of Joy Behar's Early Life

Before she was the celebrated comedian and television host, Joy Behar was Josephine Victoria Occhiuto, a Brooklyn native with an academic background and a steady job. Her life’s chronology reveals a slow burn toward stardom, punctuated by key personal and professional shifts.

  • Full Name: Josephine Victoria Occhiuto
  • Born: October 7, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York
  • Parents: Gino Occhiuto (father, a truck driver) and Rose Occhiuto (mother, a seamstress)
  • Education:
    • Queens College (Bachelor of Arts in Sociology)
    • Stony Brook University (Master of Arts in English Education, 1966)
  • First Marriage: Joseph "Joe" Behar (married 1965, divorced 1981/1982). She kept his last name.
  • Children: Eve Behar (Daughter, born November 26, 1970)
  • Current Partner: Steve Janowitz (married 2011, after decades of dating)
  • Early Career: High School English Teacher (late 1960s–early 1970s), Receptionist/Producer for *Good Morning America*, Stand-up Comedian (1980s).
  • Breakthrough: Co-host of *The View* (1997–Present, with a brief hiatus).

The English Teacher Who Found Her Voice on Long Island

One of the most surprising facts about young Joy Behar is that her first serious career was not in entertainment but in education. After receiving her Master of Arts degree, she took a job as an English teacher at Lindenhurst Senior High School on Long Island, New York.

She spent approximately five years in the classroom during the late 1960s and early 1970s, a period that stands in stark contrast to her later life as a political satirist. This chapter of her life as a Long Island educator, teaching English to high school students, is a frequent point of curiosity for fans who only know her as the sharp-tongued comedian. It was a stable career path, one that she eventually abandoned after a traumatic event that completely reframed her priorities.

A Near-Fatal Crisis That Sparked a Comedy Career

The pivotal moment that pushed Josephine Occhiuto Behar out of the classroom and onto the comedy stage occurred in 1979. Behar suffered a near-fatal ectopic pregnancy that required emergency surgery.

This terrifying experience served as a wake-up call, forcing her to confront her mortality and the dreams she had put on hold. She realized that life was too short to not pursue her true passion. At nearly 40 years old, she quit her teaching job and decided to try her hand at the notoriously brutal New York City comedy scene.

This career pivot in the early 1980s was a massive risk, exchanging the stability of a teacher’s salary for the unpredictable life of a stand-up comedian. It was a choice rooted in a deep, existential desire to finally use her natural wit and outspoken personality professionally.

The Gritty Road to Stardom: Receptionist, Producer, and Stand-Up

The journey from high school teacher to television star was a hustle involving several non-performing jobs that are often forgotten. These roles, however, were crucial in giving her the television experience she would later leverage on *The View*.

From Receptionist to Producer on Good Morning America

To make ends meet while pursuing stand-up at night, Joy Behar took a series of entry-level jobs in the television industry. She initially worked as a receptionist at ABC.

Her determination and unique perspective quickly led to an internal promotion, and she eventually became a producer on *Good Morning America*. This behind-the-scenes experience gave her an invaluable understanding of live television production, which would prepare her for the spontaneous nature of *The View* years later.

Lorne Michaels and The New Show

In 1984, Behar secured a significant early television appearance on Lorne Michaels’ short-lived sketch comedy alternative, *The New Show*. Michaels, the legendary creator of *Saturday Night Live*, featured Behar in a short film segment.

Though the show only ran for one season, this role confirmed her emerging status in the NYC comedy circuit and placed her alongside other rising comedic talent. It marked one of her very first on-screen credits, a major step up from the small, smoky clubs where she was honing her act.

The Stand-Up Style and The Vagina Monologues

Behar's stand-up comedy was characterized by her candid, often political, and distinctly New York-Italian style. She was a regular presence in the city’s comedy venues, which eventually led to her own HBO comedy specials and appearances on other television shows.

Her theatrical work also provided a platform for her feminist and social commentary. In 2000, she starred in the Off-Broadway hit, *The Vagina Monologues*, alongside other notable performers like Hazelle Goodman and Holland Taylor. She also wrote and starred in her own one-woman show, *Me, My Mouth, and I*, further cementing her reputation as a versatile humorist and actor.

The Family Life That Shaped Her Comedy

The last name "Behar," which she is famous for, comes from her first husband, Joseph Behar. They met while attending Queens College and were married for 16 years, from 1965 to 1981 (or 1982). Joseph Behar was a Sephardic Jew, and Joy, who was raised Catholic, often drew on the dynamics of their interfaith marriage and her own Italian-American background for her comedy material.

The couple had one daughter, Eve Behar, born in 1970. While Eve briefly worked in the entertainment industry as an associate producer, she ultimately chose a more private, artistic path and is now known as a devoted full-time ceramicist (artist). Joy Behar's experiences as a wife and mother, particularly her divorce and later decades-long partnership with Steve Janowitz (whom she married in 2011), provided rich, relatable material that has always grounded her comedic persona, even as she transitioned into a political commentator on *The View* in 1997.

joy behar young
joy behar young

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