Joan Rivers has passed away at the age of 81. Joan's daughter Melissa Rivers reportedly took the iconic funny lady off of life support and she died peacefully in a private room earlier today.
Last Thursday, the vocal proponent of plastic surgery was admitted into the hospital after she stopped breathing during a routine procedure on her vocal cords.
Melissa Rivers just issued a statement after her mother's passing:
"It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers. She passed peacefully at 1:17 PM surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Mount Sinai hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother. Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated. 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."
Yesterday, daughter Melissa issued a statement, alerting people to the dire situation, "My mother has been moved out of intensive care and into a private room where she is being kept comfortable. Thank you for your continued support." The
Fashion Police host stopped breathing from complications during an outpatient procedure on her vocal cords last week and was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she was placed on life support.
Rivers first came to prominence in 1965 as a guest on
The Tonight Show, and then on The Ed Sullivan Show. The funny lady also hosted the several talk shows. During the 1970s, the comic was regularly seen appearing on various television comedy and variety shows, including
The Carol Burnett Show and the
Hollywood Squares. In the 1980s she became Carson's regular guest host for
The Tonight Show whenever her mentor could not host. In 1986, Joan was set to host a new late night show,
The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, on FOX. Allegedly, the comedienne never spoke to Carson about leaving her gig at the
Tonight Show to helm her own show, and the jump ended their close relationship. Unfortunately Joan's foray into late night hosting tanked and the show soon went off the air after debuting. The career move all but tanked her career and Carson never forgave his comedy pupil for going behind his back. Joan had her fair share of struggles during this time -- her husband, Edgar Rosenberg, committed suicide in 1987, shortly after the show was cancelled.
In 1989, Joan moved into hosting daytime TV, hosting her own show,
The Joan Rivers Show, which ran for five years and won her a Daytime Emmy. In 1994, Joan and and daughter Melissa began hosting red-carpet awards shows for E! Entertainment Television. Viewers took to Rivers as a fashion critic and host and so began two decades of hosting red carpet events. In 2009, Joan and Melissa took their skills to the boardroom, competing on the second
Celebrity Apprentice. The spitfire was eventually the last one standing, winning Donald Trump's reality show. In 2012, Joan and Melissa teamed up again for their own reality show,
Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? on WE tv.
In 2010, the silver-tongued diva began hosting the still popular E! show,
Fashion Police. On the show, Joan uses her quick wit to skewer Hollywood's hottest ladies on their fashion flubs.
Joan will be remembered for her wit, humor, bold personality, being a trail blazer for strong women -- and of course, her keen fashion sense.
RIP Joan -- you were a true comedy warrior.
