Joyce Shaar is not just the most glamorous woman you’ll ever meet, she is also an embodiment of resilience, reinvention, and creativity—spanning an impressive eight decades of life. She lives by her personal motto, "I Live My Life in Phases," a reflection of her vibrant journey from Hollywood actress, Businesswoman, Writer, TV show host, and now is working on her newest phase; Podcast creator.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Joyce spent much of her childhood in Bethesda, Maryland, where her love of acting began to blossom. It was in Maryland where she first discovered the power of make-believe, a passion that would eventually define her life. Her family returned to Los Angeles when her father, Gilbert Larsen, took a job as a crime photographer with the LAPD.  

Joyce attended and graduated from Rosemead High School in San Gabriel Valley, often playing the lead roles in all her high school plays. It was during this time she met her future husband, Robert, a star athlete and football captain.

The two married after graduation and welcomed two beautiful daughters, Kathy and Julie. Joyce  put Robert through Law school, but unfortunately their marriage ended in divorce, and Joyce found herself navigating life as a single mother.

To support her family, Joyce worked nights at the renowned Lawry’s Prime Rib on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills, where she was the first female assistant manager, and the first woman allowed to work "The Door." This was the era  where you dressed to dine out, and Joyce  matched the ambiance by wearing long, elegant dresses with side slits, exuding glamour and sophistication.

Her leap into the entertainment world was serendipitous. While watching the game show Truth or Consequences, Joyce saw a sketch and thought, “I can do that.” Soon after, she found herself on the sets of NBC and CBS, performing as the “straight lady ” alongside comedy greats like Bob Newhart, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Johnny Carson, and Jonathan Winters. She also secured roles in hit TV series like Mission Impossible, Ironside, and Run for Your Life, and became a contract player for Paramount Pictures. She made her mark on stage as well, performing in productions like Match Please, Darling as a Playboy Bunny and portraying Venus in a Shakespearean dramatization of Venus and Adonis.  She loved Shakespeare but quipped “it didn’t pay the bills.”

Her next phase led her to become an ambassador for fashion critic Richard Blackwell, known for his annual “ 10 Worst Dressed” list. She also co-hosted his weekly shows, advocating for women, themed “Stand Up For Women “ broadcasted on KTLA.

Together with her daughter Julie, Joyce opened a high-end boutique called Bangles in Encino, CA. The boutique became a success, and Joyce later opened a second shop in Santa Barbara. However, the Santa Barbara location didn’t have the same draw, so she opted to commute between Encino and Santa Barbara to manage the business.

Life took a wonderful turn when Joyce met and married Cam Shaar, the head of the aerospace division at Delco in Goleta. Their life together was filled with unique ventures—owning azalea farms in Florida and a shrimp farm in Arizona. The couple even sold shrimp to Santa Barbara restaurants, delivering it themselves. Joyce chuckled at how "unglamorous" she looked in an apron, but she found joy in this phase of her life. They also co-owned two hotels: the Pepper Tree Inn and the Encina Lodge. 

After 15 years of marriage, Cam sadly passed away in 2011, and Joyce returned to the community, where she re-engaged in acting at the Marjorie Luke Theatre and worked with nonprofits in Santa Barbara.

In her later years, Joyce's creative spark was reignited, leading her back to television. She hosted The Joyce Shaar Show on Channel 6, which ran until 2023. During this time, she also turned her attention to writing children’s books. Her idea was to write a series of children’s books created to help them with speech and to get them involved in a fun way. “I’ve noticed that kids speak rapidly and don’t always know when to pause “.  Written in script form to make it interactive, it is titled “An Ollie Tale”. The first book, featuring Ollie the owl and Max, a homeless dog, and is in the works to be published.

 

In 2022, Joyce moved to North Ranch to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. She brought along Joey, her beloved 3½-year-old poodle, whom she had rescued from a homeless man in Oxnard. While she cherishes every phase of her life, her role as “Nana” is her most treasured. She enjoys frequent visits from her family and built a custom playhouse for her great grandchildren in her backyard. Joyce is the proud mother of Kathy (married to Ron Rich) and Julie (married to Eli Mandell), and the grandmother of Brianna (married to Jon), Brooke, Rebecca, and Michael.

In her spare time, Joyce finds peace tending to her plants and enjoying her outdoor space, which she lovingly calls her “place of Zen.” And now, in her eighth decade, Joyce is embracing her newest venture—podcast creation—continuing to inspire others with her vibrant energy, endless creativity, and love for life.