Born: Sept. 19, 1950
Known for: A Fair Oaks native, Joan Lunden (originally Blunden) co-hosted ABC's "Good Morning America" from 1980 to 1997.
Background: Lunden grew up in what is now the Phoenix Field subdivision. She attended California State University, Sacramento, and became a news anchor at Channel 3 (KCRA). After working in New York, she joined "Good Morning America" in 1976 as a consumer reporter. Four years later she was named co-host with David Hartman, and later with Charles Gibson. On the show, she traveled the world, covered five Olympic Games, four presidents and two royal weddings. Since leaving the show, she has hosted a prime-time series, "Wickedly Perfect," and has written books, including her latest, "Growing Up Healthy: A Complete Guide to Childhood Nutrition, Birth Through Adolescence." She also appeared as herself in the 2005 movie "Thank You for Smoking."
A highlight: Among some of her on-air feats during her "GMA" run were flying in an F-18, hang gliding, dog sledding, river rafting, ice climbing and bungee jumping.
In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.
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