Joan Rivers has passed away at 81 years young.
The comedic legend died at 1:17 p.m. today at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.
Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, made the announcement:
Statement from Melissa Rivers on passing of her mother, comedienne Joan Rivers. She was 81. pic.twitter.com/AXTsiIj55m
— Stacey Readout (@StaceyReadout) September 4, 2014
Rivers had a style of comedy that was all her own and can never be duplicated.
Read on for the facts as we lose one of Hollywood’s funniest women and biggest legends …
1. Last Week Joan Stopped Breathing During Throat Surgery
Rivers went into cardiac arrest during throat surgery at a clinic, and she was rushed to Mount Sinai hospital in New York on August 28, 2014. TMZ reported:
We’re told an emergency call was placed to 911 at 9:39 AM ET and the caller said, “We have somebody in either cardiac or respiratory arrest.”
Rivers’ heart reportedly stopped beating. Daughter Melissa Rivers and her son Cooper flew out to New York to be by Joan’s side.
Just hours before her death, CBS News reported that the New York state health department was investigating the clinic’s botched surgery.
2. She Had a Reality TV Show With Her Daughter Melissa
Melissa Rivers was Joan’s best friend, daughter, producer and co-star. The two had their own reality series called Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? and Melissa also produces the show. You can watch a clip in the above video.
In addition to producing their reality show, Melissa also produces E!’s Fashion Police, which starred her mother Joan. Check out a funny clip from the show below.
For more information on Joan’s daughter Melissa, check out the link below:
3. She’s Been Banned From Stores, Shows & Events
Joan Rivers has been banned from red carpet, talk shows, and events over the course of her career for the very reasons we love her so much. Rivers was a ballsy, insult comic and was the queen of everything she did. Not too long ago, her book was banned from Costco stores, so Rivers staged a protest. According to ABC 7:
The 79-year-old outspoken comedienne, reality star and co-host of the E! show “Fashion Police” wore sunglasses and held a megaphone as she stood inside an outlet in Burbank, signing copies of the publication. An officer was seen gesturing for her to leave. She later exited the store.
As for being banned from certain talk shows, one host she had a longstanding feud with was Johnny Carson. Rivers was first hired as a writer for Carson’s Tonight Show and then Fox decided to give her her own late night talk show. Instead of being happy for Rivers, Carson refused to talk to her and hung up the phone on her when she called to talk to him about it.
As a result, Rivers was banned from the Tonight Show, and the decision was respected by Carson’s first two successors Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. However, once Jimmy Fallon became host, Rivers appeared on his first episode and returned to the show in March 2014 for an interview.
4. Her Husband Committed Suicide
(Getty)
Rivers’ late husband Edgar Rosenberg worked with her on her show The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, but three months after they were both fired by the network, Rosenberg took his own life.
According to a 1987 article by People Magazine, he died on the night of August 14, 1987, from a combination of alcohol and valium. Rivers said her late husband committed suicide because of the humiliation he felt after being fired by Fox.
Rivers admitted to having several affairs. She told Howard Stern that she had a one-night stand with actor Robert Mitchum and an affair with actor Gabriel Dell while she was married to Rosenberg. See her interview with Stern below:
Prior to marrying Rosenberg, Rivers was married to a man named James Sanger. Rivers annulled the marriage after six months because Sanger never told her he didn’t want children until after they were married.
5. Rivers Won The Celebrity Apprentice
For the eighth season of The Celebrity Apprentice, Joan was the winner against poker player Annie Duke. Joan called Duke a two-faced person and said she was “worse than Hitler.”
Donald Trump said he chose Rivers as the winner because of her amazing energy and strength. The Daily News reported:
The winner was named as the 14 fired apprentice wannabes, including Rivers’ daughter, Melissa, showed up to witness the TV mega-event. The showdown came after Rivers and Duke were asked to organize dueling celebrity-studded auctions for their favorite charity. Rivers teamed with her daughter, retired football star Herschel Walker and country singer Clint Black to raise $150,830 for God’s Love We Deliver, a group that provides meals for the seriously ill.