Elisabeth Hasselbeck biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Elisabeth Hasselbeck was born Elisabeth Filarski on May 28, 1977, in Cranston, Rhode Island. Her father, Ken Filarski, was an architect, and her mother, Elizabeth (DelPadre) Filarski, was a lawyer. She attended the Catholic school St. Mary Academy - Bay View in East Providence, Rhode Island. She then studied at Boston College, where she played softball and majored in fine arts, and graduated in 1999.

'Survivor' and Beginning a Television Career

Hasselbeck was working as a shoe designer for the footwear and sportswear company Puma in 2001 when she auditioned for, and received, a slot on the reality television competition Survivor: The Australian Outback. She lasted over a month in the contest, finishing fourth. In 2002, she was hired to host The Look for Less, a budget-conscious fashion makeover show on the Style Network.

'The View'

In 2003, at the age of 26, Hasselbeck was hired as a co-host of the popular daytime television talk show The View, joining Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Star Jones and Meredith Vieira. She replaced Lisa Ling, who had just left the show. Shortly after Hasselbeck began working at The View, more changes took place: Jones was fired, Vieira left for the Today show and comedian Rosie O'Donnell became part of the team.

Hasselbeck's conservative political viewpoint have set her apart from her co-hosts, who have tended to be more liberal in their outlooks. She has been outspoken about her Republican affiliation and her anti-abortion beliefs, and these opinions have led to disagreements with her co-workers. In 2007, Hasselbeck locked horns on-air several times with her similarly outspoken co-host, Rosie O'Donnell. In May of that year, she and O'Donnell argued about the United States' involvement in the Iraq War (Hasselbeck was in favor of the war, but O'Donnell opposed it). O'Donnell left The View shortly after this confrontation and was replaced by Whoopi Goldberg.

Rumors about Hasselbeck's status on The View have surfaced periodically. In 2008, Hasselbeck denied reports that she was leaving the show for a position at FOX News. In March 2013, headlines claimed that she was being dismissed from The View due to her polarizing opinions. Barbara Walters denied the rumors, however, and went on to voice her support for Hasselbeck's ongoing presence at The View.

Personal Life

Elisabeth Hasselbeck is married to sports analyst and former professional football player Tim Hasselbeck. The two began dating when they were both Boston College students in 1997; they wed in Rhode Island in 2002. The couple has three children: Grace Elisabeth (born in 2005), Taylor Thomas (born in 2007) and Isaiah (born in 2009).