LOS ANGELES — Joyce Brothers, the pop psychologist who pioneered the television-advice show in the 1950s and enjoyed a long and prolific career as a syndicated columnist, author, and television and film personality, died yesterday. She was 85.
Brothers died in New York City, according to her longtime publicist, Sanford Brokaw. The cause of death was not immediately made public.
Brothers first gained fame on a game show and went on to publish 15 books and make cameo appearances on popular shows including “Happy Days” and “The Simpsons.” She visited Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show” nearly 100 times.
After her triumph on “The $64,000 Question” in 1956, she co-hosted “Sports Showcast” and frequently appeared on talk shows.
Two years later, NBC offered her a trial on an afternoon television program in which she advised on love, marriage, sex and child-rearing. Its success led to a nationally telecast program, and subsequent late-night shows that addressed such taboo subjects as menopause, frigidity, impotence and sexual enjoyment.