Joan Lunden
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
A multi-talented blonde TV personality, Joan Lunden is best known for her hosting duties on ABC's "Good Morning America." She started her broadcasting career in 1973 as a weathergirl and consumer reporter at KCRA-TV in her hometown of Sacramento. Within six months, Lunden was promoted to co-anchor of the noon news broadcast. In 1975, she moved to WABC-TV in NYC and the following year she co-anchored the weekend newscasts. Lunden began her association with ABC's "Good Morning America" in 1976 as a consumer reporter. She began to act as substitute host from 1978 to 1980, when she became a permanent host. Her contract at the time caused some controversy for its child care clause that allowed her to bring her children to work and required the network to provide a nursery.
Lunden expanded her hosting duties to include two additional series on parenting, the Lifetime cable series the award-winning "Mother's Day" (1984) and the syndicated "Everyday With Joan Lunden" (1989). Despite having appeared in one film, "Macho Callahan" in the non-speaking role of a saloon keeper, Lunden turned down the opportunity to appear in Robert Benton's "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979). She had made cameo appearances as herself in "What About Bob?" (1991) and "Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home" (1995). Lunden has authored several books on parenting and also hosted videos dealing with parenting and fitness.
On September 5, 1997, after twenty years with "Good Morning America," Lunden left the show to pursue other interests. Having left the show on good terms, she occasionally returned to the GMA desk as a guest host or special correspondent after relinquishing her hosting duties. She also appeared as herself on various television shows, including "Murphy Brown" (CBS 1988-1998) and the Al Franken-created news satire "LateLine" (NBC 1998-99). She also appeared in Richard Donner's thriller "Conspiracy Theory" (1997) as a news anchor. She returned to TV full time as the host of reality competition series "Wickedly Perfect" (ABC 2004-05), though the series lasted only one season. The following year, she appeared as herself in Jason Reitman's political satire "Thank You For Smoking" (2005). On June 24, 2014, Lunden appeared on "Good Morning America" to reveal that she was undergoing aggressive treatment for breast cancer. She chose to return to her former TV home for the announcement in part because GMA co-hosts Robin Roberts and Amy Robach had undergone breast cancer treatment themselves.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Writer (Special)
Producer (Special)
Special Thanks (Special)
Life Events
1966
Graduated high school at age 16
1968
Film debut in non-speaking role, "Macho Callahan"
1973
Hired as model at KRCA-TV, Sacramento; eventually made appearances on air as weathergirl and consumer reporter
1974
Became co-anchor of daily noon news broadcast of KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA; also produced noon broadcast and hosted specials (date approximate)
1975
Moved to NYC to join WABC-TV
1976
Co-anchored weekend newscasts at WABC-TV
1976
First appearance on "Good Morning America" (ABC) as consumer reporter
1976
Turned down role as Dustin Hoffman's lawyer in film "Kramer vs. Kramer"
1978
Role on "Good Morning America" expanded; had childcare clause written into her contract
1980
First appearance as temporary host of "Good Morning America" in February
1980
Named permanent co-host of "Good Morning America" in August
1984
Hosted "Mother's Day" on the Lifetime cable network
1986
Appeared in ABC information spots called "Mother's Minutes"
1987
Hosted first primetime special "Our Kids and the Best of Everything"
1989
Hosted "Everyday with Joan Lunden", a syndicated talk show
1989
Released first video, "Your Newborn Baby: Everything You Need to Know"
1991
First speaking role in films, playing herself in cameo role in "What About Bob?"
1994
Hosted primetime special, "Behind Closed Doors With Joan Lunden"; subsequent airings occurred on ABC until 2000 when A&E began to air reruns with ten new episodes set for 2001
1995
Released workout video, "Joan Lunden Workout America"
1997
In May, announced she would relinquish hosting duties of "Good Morning America" on September 5
2001
Hosted the A&E series "Biography"
2005
Hosted "Finding the Next Designing Diva" (CBS) a reality show that will bring together 12 aspiring Martha Stewart types to crown the country's new authority on at-home living
Family
Companions
