- Joan Rivers was a famous actress and comedian
- She passed away in 2014
- Learn more about her life and career
Originally from New York, Joan Rivers started to build her career in the late 1950s after appearing in several Broadway plays. But it was in 1965 that she gained more attention after her participation on The Tonight Show.
The rest is history. Often noted for her controversial comedic persona and for performing both black and insult comedy -especially towards celebrities and politicians- the fabulous Joan Rivers was considered to be one of the most talented actresses, comedians, fashion experts, and writers of all time.
Unfortunately, she passed away on September 4, 2014, from brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York; she was 81 years old. Three days later her body was cremated in New Jersey, and a private memorial service was held at Temple Emanu-El in New York's Manhattan district. Longtime friends Michael Kors, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Howard Stern, were some of the celebrities who attended the funeral.
A look back at Fashion Police star Joan Rivers' career
After appearing on several television shows and films during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, both acting and voicing, Joan Rivers established her popularity and particular comedic style with her own program called The Late Show with Joan Rivers in 1986. She became the first woman to host a late-night network television talk show. Then she hosted The Joan Rivers Show from 1989 to 1993, which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Joan gained even more popularity for appearing in series like Suddenly Susan, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Nip/Tuck. In 2010 she started to host the iconic American series Fashion Police, where she used to comment on celebrity outfits and red carpet styles, alongside panelists Kelly Osbourne, Giuliana Rancic, and George Kotsiopoulos.
Fashion Police is probably one of her major achievements where she appeared from 2010 to 2014, for a total of 286 episodes. After Joan Rivers' death, the show went on a 5-month-hiatus and eventually her daughter Melissa took over the role as the new co-host. The show was finally cancelled with a series finale airing in 2017.
Five quick facts about Fashion Police star Joan Rivers
- In 2015 she posthumously received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for her book Diary of a Mad Diva
- Rolling Stones magazine named her one of the best comedians of all time
- Joan was an advocate of plastic surgery for older women. She considered that if a woman can afford it, it could be helpful in terms of self-esteem
- She got married for the first time in 1955 to James Sanger but separated after six months. Joan got married for the second time in 1965 to Edgar Rosenberg, together they had their only child Melissa Rivers
- Rivers was married to Rosenberg until he committed suicide in 1987, four days after she asked him for a separation. The comedian and television personality once revealed she developed eating disorders and severe mental health problems following Rosenberg's death
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He left behind an incredible legacy!
