Produced Joan Elise Blunden in Fair Oaks, CA on September 19, 1950, Joan Lunden is an American journalist, author and television host. She is the daughter of Gladyce Lorraine Somervill and Erle Murray Blunden who was a physician. Lunden has a liberal arts degree from Sacramento State University. She also studied Spanish and anthropology in the former Mexico City campus of Universidad de Las Americas. She taught a class in broadcast journalism as a visiting instructor at Montclair State College in New Jersey.
Joan Lunden Net Worth $25 Million
Lunden started her broadcasting career in Sacramento, CA when she worked for KCRA TV and Radio as a co-anchor of the daily noon TV news program. She’s also produced the noon news program and hosted KCRA’s TV specials. She joined New York’s WABC-TV Eyewitness News in 1975. Her name was changed to Lunden to avoid being called ‘Blunder.’ She joined Good Morning America in the autumn of 1976 as a feature news/consumer reporter. She afterwards became fill-in cohost when former cohost Sandy Hill left to focus on ABCs coverage of the Winter Olympics. Her popularity led to her fast promotion as cohost to the initial host David Hartman. She left GMA in 1997 and she later on spent her career as a host in ABC with Charlie Gibson.
Lunden is focused on family and civic responsibility. The New York Women in Communications honored her with a Matrix Award for her outstanding contributions in the field of broadcasting. Joan Lunden has appeared as a guest host in the program Biography and also the Biography Channel. She is the host of DirectTV’s series Hometown Heroes and the Emmy-winning particular America’s Invisible Children. Joan currently hosts Health Corner, a Lifetime series sponsored by Walgreens. As an author, she’s eight published novels. Joan contributes to Fox News Special Royal Wedding and covered the wedding of Princess Diana in 1981.
Joan is married to Michael A. Krauss in 1978 where she converted to Judaism and divorced in 1992. The had three daughters — Jamie Beryl, Lindsay Leigh and Sarah Emily. She wed Jeff Konigsberg in 2000 and the have four kids with two sets of twins — Max and Kate, and Jack and Kimberly. The were born with the support of a surrogate mother. She then became a spokeswoman of surrogacy.
Journalist, TV Journalist, Actor, Screenwriter, Author, Newscaster
Education
Universidad de las Américas Puebla, California State University, Sacramento
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Jeff Konigsberg (m. 2000), Michael A. Krauss (m. 1978–1992)
Children
Jamie Krauss, Sarah Emily Krauss, Lindsay Kraus
Parents
Gladyce Lorraine Blunden, Erle Murray Blunden
Nicknames
Joan Elise Blunden
Nominations
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program
Movies
Conspiracy Theory, What About Bob?
TV Shows
Good Morning America, Biography, Wickedly Perfect, Behind Closed Doors
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Fact
1
Her daughter, Lindsey Kraus Weinberg, gave birth to daughter Parker Leigh Weinberg, on Aug. 30, 2014.
2
Joan's mother died in 2013.
3
Has been diagnosed with breast cancer [June 24, 2014].
4
In June 2015, one year after being diagnosed with breast cancer she is now cancer free.
5
Her father was a cancer surgeon. Joan originally wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor.
6
Currently is the official spokesperson for A Place For Mom.
7
Greenwich, Connecticut [November 2004]
8
Welcomed a second set of twins to her family, Kimberly Elise & Jack Andrew. First set of twins Kate & Max were also delivered by a surrogate mom. [March 2005]
9
Release of her book, "Joan Lunden's Healthy Living: A Practical, Inspirationl Guide to Creating Balance in Your Life". [1997]
10
Release of her book, "Joan Lunden's Healty Cooking". [1996]
11
Release of her book, "Joan Lunden's a Bend in the Road is Not the End of the Road: 10 Positive Principles for Dealing with Change". [1998]
Her mother is in a senior living facility, afflicted with Alzheimer's.
14
Her brother, who had diabetes, died in 2007 [2010].
15
Fox News Special Royal Wedding contributor. Covered Princess Diana's wedding in 1981.
16
Was once a beat reporter for WABC-TV's Eyewitness News in New York City.
17
Her husband, Jeff Konigsberg, owns two summer camps in Maine - Camp Takajo (for boys), located in Naples, Maine, and Tripp Lake Camp (for girls),located in Poland, Maine. The girl's camp is run by his sister, Nancy Konigsberg Levy.
18
(1,March 2005) second set of twins were born, a girl, Kimberly Elise (6lbs. 12ozs) and a boy, Jack Andrew (7lbs. 9oz). Kimberly and Jack were delivered by the same surrogate mom, Deborah Bolig in a Cincinnati hospital.
19
Daughter Sarah Kraus is now 17 and attends Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Connecticut. She was recently accepted at the University of Pennsylvania, where her mother is on the board of trustees. [2004]
20
10 June 2003 - Joan & husband Jeff Konigsberg became the parents of twins - Kate Elizabeth & Max Aaron, delivered by a surrogate mother in Cincinnati.
21
Daughter Lindsey Kraus attends the University of Pennsylvania (as of 2002).