‘The View’ Cast: Photos of the Co-Hosts Through the Years

Nearly 24 years since it premiered, The View remains one of the most influential talk shows on American television. Barbara Walters is credited with creating the Emmy Award-winning show, which aired its very first episode on August 11, 1997 on ABC with a multi-generational panel of women that discussed pop culture news, politics, fashion and more wide-raning topics. In addition to Walters, Joy Behar, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos and Meredith Vieira made up the show's original panel.

Over the years, the women of The View have welcomed A-list stars and huge political figures on the show as guests while they discussed — and sometimes argued — over the latest happenings in the world. As would be expected, the show commonly rotated through its cast over the past 24 seasons. Currently, Joy, Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, and Meghan McCain are the leading ladies of the show (though Meghan announced in July 2021 she would leave at the season's conclusion later this month.) 

Click through this gallery to learn about all the powerful women who have sat at the coveted The View table.

Barbara Walters deserves all the credit for The View. Barbara was a well-known broadcast journalist when she created The View with her business partner, Bill Geddie, with a vision of women of different generations and backgrounds to get together and discuss world events. Barbara was part of the show's original panel and kept the co-hosting gig until she retired at the end of season 17 in 2014.

Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Arizona Senator John McCain, is the most recent addition to The View. The outspoken Republican joined the show in October 2017 and since then, has made headlines for her repeated arguments with her co-hosts, specifically Joy. Meghan took a few months off after her dad died in 2018, but she returned to the show shortly afterward.

On July 1, 2021, she announced she would leave the show at the season's conclusion, later that month. She cited a desire to be closer to her family in Washington, D.C. as a motivating factor for her resignation. 

Related: Meghan McCain — Photos Through The Years

Comedian Joy Behar has been a co-host on The View longer than anyone. She was there from the very beginning and brought humorous jokes to the show until she was fired after season 16 in 2013. But two years later, Joy was brought back to the show and doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Debbie Matenopolous was just 22 years old when she was hired for season 1 of The View. As the show's youngest co-host, Debbie brought a unique perspective to the discussions. But after two seasons, Debbie was let go from the show.

Star Jones is an OG of The View. The lawyer-turned-TV host was a leading lady on the show until season 9 in 2006, when Star unexpectedly announced her departure on air. In later interviews, Star said that the decision to leave was not hers, but rather the producers'.

Meredith Vieira was the fifth and final original co-host of The View. Her tenure lasted until season 9 in 2006, like Star, when she left the show to become a co-anchor on Today. Since then, Meredith has enjoyed a successful career on television.

Journalist Lisa Ling was brought in as a new co-host on The View for season 3 to replace Meredith. She only lasted on the show for three seasons, and later went on to host her own show, Our America with Lisa Ling, on the Oprah Winfrey Network

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a fashion designer and former Survivor contestant, joined The View for season 6. As a staunch Republican, Elisabeth often clashed with the other ladies — including when she infamously sparred with Rosie O'Donnell on-air. Elisabeth left the show after season 16 for a new gig on Fox & Friends.

Who could forget Rosie O'Donnell on The View? The comedian/actress took a co-hosting gig for season 10, but left the show after that season following a major fight with Elisabeth. Rosie eventually returned to the talk show for season 18, but exited after just one season yet again.

Related: Rosie O’Donnell — Photos Through The Years

Today, Whoopi Goldberg is the face of The View. The EGOT winner joined the talk show for season 11 in 2007 and has not missed a single season since. Whoopi currently serves as the show's moderator, though she takes Fridays off for some much-needed down time.

Related: Whoopi Goldberg — Photos Through The Years

Sherri Shepherd instantly became a fan favorite when she snagged a co-hosting gig on The View in season 11. But after season 16, Sherri departed the show and moved onto new opportunities on television.

Before she was a judge on The Masked Singer, Jenny McCarthy sat at The View table. Jenny, an actress and author, joined the talk show for season 17 as a pop culture enthusiast — but that gig only lasted for one year. Since her departure, Jenny has been open about how she didn't exactly have the best time as a co-host.

Oh, snap! Raven-Symoné had a memorable but short-lived stint on The View as a co-host from 2015 to 2016. During her tenure, Raven shared a special on-air reunion with her former That's So Raven costars that warmed the hearts of Disney Channel fans.

Actress Rosie Perez landed a co-hosting spot on The View for season 18. She lasted only one year on the show, and has jumped back into acting on shows including HBO Max's hit series The Flight Attendant.

Nicolle Wallace was best known as the White House Communications Director under President George W. Bush before she made her way to The View for season 18. But like Rosie, Nicolle left the show after just one year. She currently works as an anchor on Deadline: White House on NBC discussing all things politics.

Michelle Collins cracked plenty of jokes while she was a co-host on The View in season 18. She returned for season 19, but was let go from the show in June 2016. Michelle's since hosted aftershows for Bachelor in Paradise and 90 Day Fiance.

Former Full House star Candace Cameron-Bure kicked off her tenure on The View in 2015 for season 19. She remained on the show through the 2016 presidential election but left at the end of the year due to the difficult commute between coasts and commitment to Fuller House.

Related: Fuller House Cast: Then & Now

Paula Faris became a member of The View family for season 16. Paula, who had previously worked for ABC News, enjoyed a nearly three-year run on The View before she left in July 2018. She returned to ABC News and became a senior national correspondent.

Sara Haines added some levity and light to The View when she joined as co-host in 2016. Two years later, she left the show to host an ABC daytime show with Michael Strahan and Keke Palmer. But following the COVID-19 pandemic, Sara returned to The View as a full-time cohost and remains on the panel today.

Sunny Hostin has been The View's resident law expert ever since she joined the show in 2016. Outside of The View, which she still cohosts today, Sunny is a senior legal correspondent and analyst for ABC News.

Jedediah Bila often appeared on Fox News before she transitioned to The View as a conservative voice for season 20. She stuck around on the show for over a year before she left to return to Fox News as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend. Jedediah left that job in May 2021.

This article originally appeared on Hollywood Life and is syndicated by Cheapism.