Joan Benny
Joan Benny, daughter of Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone, grew up in the glamorous environment of the ‘old’ Hollywood. She attended the local public school, a private secondary school, then Stanford University. She had a brief career as an actress and model before opting for marriage. During the period when she was raising her four children she taught remedial math, worked as the assistant director of the Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies at UCLA, as well as becoming involved in charitable foundations. She was on the board of directors of the Exceptional Children's Foundation, a national co-chairman of the juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and a spokesman for the American Cancer Society.
After her retirement as a housewife and mother, she began her second career; that of lecturing and writing. She has been on the lecture circuit for 10 years, talking about Growing Up In Hollywood, The Art of Comedy, and Living In the Shadow of Fame. Aside from the circuit she has been a guest speaker at both the Detroit and New York Book Fairs; on the QEII, Royal Viking Sun, and most recently on Crystal Symphony where she delivered 6 different lectures. She has also been a resource at two Young President's Organization universities.
From 1985-1990 Joan was on the faculty of the Aspen Film Conference where she taught a college-accredited course; The Evolution of Film Comedy, with the emphasis on humor as a reflection of a changing society.
In 1990 she published a book titled Sunday Nights At Seven. (a reference to her dad's radio shows). Her 15 city book tour included appearances on the Tonight Show, Good-Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, and the Larry King Show. Happily, the book made three best-seller lists.
Her proudest achievement is her four grown children, all in successful careers, (they include a doctor and an MIT professor of computer science) and her two gorgeous, incredibly brilliant grandsons (which she says without prejudice!).
Joan Benny, daughter of Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone, grew up in the glamorous environment of the ‘old’ Hollywood. She attended the local public school, a private secondary school, then Stanford University. She had a brief career as an actress and model before opting for marriage. During the period when she was raising her four children she taught remedial math, worked as the assistant director of the Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies at UCLA, as well as becoming involved in charitable foundations. She was on the board of directors of the Exceptional Children's Foundation, a national co-chairman of the juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and a spokesman for the American Cancer Society.
After her retirement as a housewife and mother, she began her second career; that of lecturing and writing. She has been on the lecture circuit for 10 years, talking about Growing Up In Hollywood, The Art of Comedy, and Living In the Shadow of Fame. Aside from the circuit she has been a guest speaker at both the Detroit and New York Book Fairs; on the QEII, Royal Viking Sun, and most recently on Crystal Symphony where she delivered 6 different lectures. She has also been a resource at two Young President's Organization universities.
From 1985-1990 Joan was on the faculty of the Aspen Film Conference where she taught a college-accredited course; The Evolution of Film Comedy, with the emphasis on humor as a reflection of a changing society.
In 1990 she published a book titled Sunday Nights At Seven. (a reference to her dad's radio shows). Her 15 city book tour included appearances on the Tonight Show, Good-Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, and the Larry King Show. Happily, the book made three best-seller lists.
Her proudest achievement is her four grown children, all in successful careers, (they include a doctor and an MIT professor of computer science) and her two gorgeous, incredibly brilliant grandsons (which she says without prejudice!).
