Happy Birthday to Joy Behar...

This very funny and very smart woman turns 66 today.

It is so inspiring to see someone enjoy their biggest professional success after the age of 50. Joy had been kicking around as a comic and an actress for a long time before Barbara Walters wisely picked her to be a part of "The View." Along with Barbara, she is the only original panelist who has been on the show for 11 years. Joy, who previously worked as a teacher and as a secretary at "Good Morning America," no regularly fills in for Larry King.

And to top it all off, she's very pro-gay rights which makes us love her all the more.

EARLIER POST: My Interview With Joy Behar