Comedian Joan Rivers Dies [VIDEO]
Comedian Joan Rivers has died at the age of 81.
FOX News Radios Michelle Pollino takes a look at her career:
She came into this world the daughter of Russian immigrant parents born Joan Melinsky. She became Joan Rivers and a legend was born. The Emmy Award winning television talk show host, Tony nominated actress, best selling author and perennial spitfire. There wasn’t anything off limits. She once told a photographer, ‘President Obama is gay and his wife’…
(Rivers) “…You know Michelle is a tranny, a transgender…”
She got her break in 1965, appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. Carson eventually hired her as a writer and cemented a long standing friendship, one that would be tested in the 80’s. She had her daughter Melissa a few years later.
She went on to many guest appearances throughout the next two decades that included “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Hollywood Squares”.
(“Hollywood Squares”)
In 1973, Rivers wrote the TV movie “The Girl Most Likely To…”, a black comedy starring Stockard Channing. In ’78, Rivers wrote and directed the film “Rabbit Test”, starring her friend Billy Crystal.
(“Rabbit Test” Trailer)
And in 1984 in she was on a Carson retrospective…
(Rivers) “Daughter Melissa goes to Beverly Hills High School… Roman Polanski is the guidance counselor, oh you don’t know, oh grow up… you don’t know… Can we talk about Beverly Hills High School… I am telling you… Every other kid is pregnant the school mascot is a dead rabbit…”
Two years later she made a move that would end her friendship with Carson and ban her from The Tonight Show. That lasted all the way to February of 2014. She became the first female late night host on a new network called Fox. But word got out to Carson before Joan had a chance to tell him, they never spoke again. The show failed.
And soon after her husband Edgar committed suicide. The always controversial comedian made some enemies with her brash humor as everyone was fair game. But whenever Rivers angered someone, and she usually did, she would say this…
(Rivers) “It’s a joke.”
She went on to do several shows including E!’s “Fashion Police”, a reality show with her daughter Melissa, and a show called “In Bed With Joan”.
Michelle Pollino, FOX News Radio.
READ a statement from Joan Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers:
“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers. She passed peacefully at 1:17pm 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.”
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