Quick-witted comedienne Joan Rivers died today (9/4) after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest during surgery on her vocal cords in a doctor's office on August 28th. She was 81 years old.
Rivers is considered one of the greatest female comedians of all time, as she was the first permanent guest host for "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." She eventually become the first woman with her own late-night show by signing a deal with "The Late Show" on Fox in 1986, which was actually the predecessor to 90s late-night show phenomenon, "The Arsenio Hall Show." Rivers later won a Daytime Emmy for "The Joan Rivers Show" in 1990.
Joan constantly reinvented herself, hitting the red carpet with daughter Melissa on E! from 1996-2004, eventually gaining her own show, "Fashion Police," with the network in 2010.
Daughter Melissa Rivers has released this statement on the passing of her mother:
"My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."
See pictures of Rivers with stars like 50 Cent, Ciara, Trey Songz and more in the gallery above.
Rest in Peace.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
