Every family has secrets—just ask Joy Behar.
The View co-host, 82, opened up about the origins of her own name on the show’s Behind The Table podcast, revealing a dark fact about her grandma in the process.
As Behar told producer Brian Teta, she was named after her paternal grandmother, who lived in Turin, Italy.
“I was born Josephine, named after my father’s mother, who was a little wacky, I understand,” Behar said, according to TV Insider.
“My grandfather decided to come to Brooklyn to visit his brother who was here,” she continued. “My grandfather didn’t go back for several months. So, my grandmother, Josephine, sent him—I don’t know, by pigeon or something—a note, saying, ‘If you don’t come back, I’m going to kill myself and the children.’ Of which, there were three.”
“That is who I am named after,” she added.
Behar also shared that it was her maternal grandfather who suggested she go by “Joy” (which he apparently explained as “La Gioia,” or “The Joy” in Italian).
Joy celebrated her 82nd birthday on the Oct. 4 episode of The View with a little help from guest (and old friend) Nathan Lane.
At the end of the actor’s interview, co-host Ana Navarro asked Lane, “Did you come here empty-handed for Joy’s birthday?”
“No, I did not! Because Joy is still a hot Italian woman, I have ordered Joy a hot Italian pizza!” Lane answered.
At that point, a male stripper dressed as a pizza delivery man appeared on the set with a pizza box to perform a seductive dance.
Behar seemingly enjoyed the performance, laughing and fanning herself with her note cards.
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