Joy Behar, one of the original cast members of "The View," is leaving at the end of the season after 16 1/2 years.

"You can't stay forever on a show," Behar told " Good Morning America." "I am graciously exiting stage left."

"I've put in 16 1/2 years and felt the time was right. I want to explore other opportunities," she said.

The comedian has been with the show since it premiered in 1997.

Donna Svennevik/ABC

Along with Behar, ABC News correspondent Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and moderator Whoopi Goldberg discuss the day's hottest topics on the hour-long weekday show.

"Joy Behar has been instrumental in the success of 'The View' from the very beginning. We wish her all the best in this next chapter, and are thrilled that we have her for the remainder of the season," ABC said in a statement.

Behar currently hosts "Joy Behar: Say Anything!" on Current TV.

She previously hosted "The Joy Behar Show" on HLN.