Joan Lunden is an American journalist, author and television host. She was the co-host of
ABC's Good Morning America from 1980 through 1997 and is the author of 8 books. Lunden
has appeared on the Biography program and Biography Channel.
Early life Lunden was born as Joan Elise Blunden in Fair
Oaks, California, the daughter of Gladyce Lorraine and Dr. Erle Murray Blunden, a physician.
She earned a liberal arts degree from Sacramento State University.
She attended California State University, Sacramento and later studied Spanish and anthropology
at the former Mexico City campus of Universidad de Las Americas. She was a visiting instructor
at Montclair State College in New Jersey, where she taught a course in broadcast journalism.
Her first news anchor job was at at Channel 3. She began her broadcasting career in Sacramento,
California, where she worked for Channel 3 and Radio as co-anchor of the daily noon television
news program. She produced the noon news broadcast and hosted KCRA's television specials.
Career Good Morning America
In 1975, Lunden joined New York's WABC-TV Eyewitness News, at which time her name was
changed to avoid being called "Blunder". A year later she became co-anchor on the weekend
newscasts. Lunden joined GMA in the fall of 1976 as a feature news/consumer reporter,
and later became fill-in co-host when former co-host Sandy Hill left to work on ABC's coverage
of the Winter Olympics. Her popularity led to her quick promotion
to co-host with David Hartman, the program's original host. Later she would spend the majority
of her career hosting with ABC's Charlie Gibson. She reported from 26 countries, covered four
presidents, five Olympic Games, and two royal weddings. Her popularity on the GMA program
from the 1970s through the 1990s allowed her to interview U.S. Presidents and First Ladies
Gerald and Betty Ford, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, George and
Barbara Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and also Texas Governor George and Laura Bush
prior to the younger Bush's 2000 election as President.
As the co-host of GMA, Lunden traveled the world, covering historic events, such as the
50th anniversary of VE Day in 1995; the 50th anniversary of D-Day; the 1984 and 1988 Winter
Olympics in Sarajevo and Calgary; and the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess
of Wales. She covered the administrations and inaugurations of three presidents: Bill
Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan. She was one of only three American journalists
to interview Prince Charles during his 1983 visit to the United States.
Lunden was known for her willingness to take risks in her role as host. She climbed and
rappelled Alaska's famed Mendenhall Glacier and bungee-jumped off a 143-foot bridge and
paraglided off a 2,000-foot mountain during the program's highly rated trip to New Zealand.
She navigated the whitewater rapids of a Georgia river for a GMA show in 1994.
Hosting and other work She was a host on the A&E cable network program
Behind Closed Doors, an on-location, undercover reporter program. She also frequently guest
hosted A&E's Biography. Her most recent television shows include hosting DirectTV's series Hometown
Heroes and the Emmy-winning special America's Invisible Children.
Lunden hosts Health Corner, a Lifetime series sponsored by Walgreens, and is currently the
official spokesperson for A Place for Mom, a national senior care referral service.
Activities and honors Lunden has earned numerous honors and awards,
including the Spirit of Achievement Award from the Albert Einstein College of Yeshiva;
National Women's Political Caucus Award; New Jersey Division of Civil Rights Award; Baylor
University Outstanding Woman of the Year; and the YWCA Outstanding Woman's Award. The
New York Women in Communications honored Lunden with a Matrix Award for her outstanding contributions
to the broadcasting field. She was voted "Career Mother of the Year"
by the National Institute of Infant Services and In 1982-83, honoring her dedication to
motherhood, she was voted "Mother of the Year" by the National Mother's Day Committee. She
has been a national spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Lunden hosted ABC's broadcast of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, from
1989-91, and hosted the Walt Disney World Easter and Christmas Parades with Regis Philbin
until the mid-90s. In April 1991, Lunden was honored by New York
Women in Communications with a Matrix Award for her "outstanding contributions to the
broadcasting field." Lunden appeared as herself in a brief role in the 2006 film Thank You
for Smoking. She also appeared on the cover of Woman's Day in 2004.
Lunden is involved in various personal projects such as her Camp Reveille, a summer weekend
getaway for women of all ages in Naples, Maine. Lunden is on the board of PassportMD, an online
personal health record system which allows families to maintain and organize their family
health records. Personal life
Lunden was married to Michael A. Krauss from 1978 until their divorce in 1992. The couple
has three daughters: Jamie Beryl Krauss, born July 4, 1980; Lindsay Leigh Krauss; and Sarah
Emily Krauss. Lunden converted to Judaism when marrying Krauss. She married Jeff Konigsberg
on April 18, 2000. They have four children, two sets of twins, born with the help of a
surrogate mother, and Lunden has become a spokeswoman for surrogacy.
On Tuesday, June 24, 2014, Lunden revealed on Good Morning America that she had been
diagnosed with breast cancer. Books
Growing up Healthy: Protecting your child now through Adulthood
Joan Lunden's Healthy Living Joan Lunden's Healthy Cooking
Wake Up Calls: Making the Most Out of Every Day - ISBN 0-07-136126-X
A Bend in the Road is not the End of the Road: 10 Positive Principles For Dealing With Change
- ISBN 0-688-16083-2 Mother's Minutes
Your Newborn Baby Good Morning I'm Joan Lunden
Exercise Video: Workout America References
External links Joan Lunden's Official Website
Joan Lunden at the Internet Movie Database