‘The View’ Honors Former Host Meredith Vieira’s Husband, Richard Cohen, After His Death: ‘Our Dear Friend’

The women of The view paid tribute to one of their own after the announcement of the death of Meredith Vieira’s husband, Richard Cohen.

The news came to Today Jan. 7 broadcast that Cohen, Vieira’s husband of 38 years, died at age 76 on Christmas Eve, and Joy Behar kicked off that day’s episode with a message from the former co-host.

“Our dear friend and OG See “Moderator Meredith Vieira wanted us to share with you all that her husband, Richard Cohen, passed away on Christmas Eve,” Behar, 82, said. “A lot of people who watched those shows remember Richard. Meredith told us it was very fitting because he came into the world on Valentine’s Day and left it one day. holiday, so it seemed like perfect symmetry.”

“In his memoirs, BlindRichard was refreshingly frank, even good-natured, about his lifelong struggle with MS (he long suffered from multiple sclerosis) and other health problems. I remember he once had a cancer scare that was devastating for her, and of course for him. But he never let the disease control or define his life. It was true for him.”

Related: Who Was Meredith Vieira’s Husband, Richard Cohen? All About the Late Journalist and His Decades-Spanning Romance (Which Began at CBS)

Behar continued of the veteran journalist, who battled MS for more than 50 years: “He was a Renaissance man, an accomplished writer, television producer and three-time Emmy winner himself .Richard also had a long history with us once he got used to Meredith’s big mouth at the Hot Topics table – where she would spill the tea about their sex life and reveal that she didn’t carry any money. -clothes – then he goes is handed over and he loved appearing on The view as a guest to tell his side of the story.”

The long-time host of The view said that she and her husband, Steve Janowitz, “also enjoyed spending time with Richard, off-camera” and that the couples “would go to dinner (together) several times.”

Cohen also “loved Whoopi” Goldberg,” Behar said, and “Sara (Haines) got to know her when she was in college. Today to show.”

Related: ‘The View’ Honors Barbara Walters in Tribute Show After Her Death: ‘There Will Never Be Another’

Behar shared that Cohen “became a grandfather this summer” and “was surrounded by family when he passed away.”

“It’s very sad and touching. Three adult children – Ben, Gabe and Lily – came home to spend the whole month with him. They were a very, very close-knit family,” she added. “Our thoughts are with our beloved Meredith, as well as Richard’s family and many friends. A life well lived.”

On TodaySavannah Guthrie said Vieira, 71, who left The view in 2006 to co-host the Today show with Matt Lauer – is “in a very good mood” after Kotb shared the sad news.

“She was such a beautiful and devoted wife to Richard and he adored Meredith,” Guthrie said. “And by the way, they were the funniest, most entertaining, most irreverent, coolest couple you could ever meet.”

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The view airs daily on ABC. Check local listings.

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