Joy Behar

From Philosopedia

Behar, Joy (7 October 1943 - )

A raspy-voiced comic seen on The View, a telecast that airs live from New York, Behar has hosted a call-in radio show, appeared on various game, talk, and variety shows, and has appeared in such movies as Nora Ephron’s This Is My Life and Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery. Behar is author of Shtick.

Interviewed by Ruby Comer in A & U (February 2001), she expressed her freethought:

Comer: What is your concept of death? Do you still profess Catholicism?

Behar: I was raised a Catholic, but I have many, many doubts about religion. They say if you believe, then you don’t have any questions, and if you don’t believe there are no answers.

Comer: Quite an astute thought. What do you think happens after death?

Behar: Nothing. We just go back into the ground like a plant. I’m not Shirley MacLaine. I was at a party with her one time and I said to her, “Are you afraid to die, Shirley?” She said, “Oh, no, I’m looking forward to it.” And I said, “Oh, I forgot who I was talking to. You’re coming back!” She rolled her eyes like I was an idiot. [Hard laugh.]

Comer: Yes, death is a mysterious thing.

Behar: I don’t approve of death. [She states this deadpan.] I mean, I’d like it to go away and stop bothering everybody. Death is the reason why we have to enjoy our lives. I suppose it would be horrifying if life went on and on indefinitely. First of all, where are you going to fit all these people? It’s crowded enough in New York.

On The View (3 June 2009 and at other times), she has said she is a Catholic.