Comedienne And Actress Died In A Hospital

Joan Rivers Died at 81

Comedienne And Actress Died In A Hospital

Joan Rivers, the raspy-voiced comedian who pounced on America's obsessions with flab, face-lifts, body hair and other blemishes of neurotic life, died Thursday at age 81. Rivers died at a New York City hospital, a week after going into cardiac arrest during a throat procedure at a Manhattan clinic.

Rivers Was Known for Her Appearances On "The Tonight Show"

Rivers was a guest host on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" 93 times. She also had her own syndicated daytime talk show, "The Joan Rivers Show," from 1989 to 1993. In recent years, she had starred in reality shows including "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" and "Fashion Police."

Rivers was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. She began her career as a stand-up comic in the early 1960s. She was known for her self-deprecating humor and her willingness to talk about taboo subjects.

Rivers was married to Edgar Rosenberg from 1965 until his death in 1987. They had one child, a daughter named Melissa.