It seemed at times like Joan Rivers was immortal, that she would forever throw punchy one-liners about fashion, that she would forever work every red carpet with her trademark “Who are you wearing?” Alas, it was not to be. Joan passed away today at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Joan Rivers, a raucous and often-ubiquitous comedic presence on TV and nightclubs since the 1960s, has died. She was 81.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers,” daughter Melissa said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “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.”
Rivers stopped breathing during a surgical procedure on her vocal cords last week and had to be rushed from the clinic to Mount Sinai Hospital.
Her daughter, Melissa immediately flew from Los Angeles to the Manhattan medical facility, where Joan reportedly had been placed in a medically induced coma.
In a statement over the weekend, Melissa Rivers said, “We are keeping our fingers crossed,” and thanked those who expressed their support as her mother fought for her life.
That People link has a nice write-up about the life and times of Joan as well. What always amazed me – and if you ever watched her documentary, A Piece of Work, you know this – is just how hard she worked ALL of her life. She literally leaves behind six decades of blood, sweat and tears. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Melissa and to Joan’s beloved grandson Edgar Cooper Endicott.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I met her once, lovely woman. RIP
A single mom who did what she loved right into her 80’s! Loved her. I am saddened by her passing. May she rest in Peace.
She was not a single mom. Jeez Louise.
I’ll miss you Joan…the end of an era.
Rest in peace.
x
RIP Joan.
My deepest condolences to Melissa and Cooper. Rest in peace Joan, you will be sadly missed.
We have just lost one of the greatest comediene . Rest in peace, dear Joan. We will miss you. My heart goes to Melissa and Cooper.
+1 🙁
Very sad. She stayed so active in her career until the very end. I really thought she was going to pull through.
RIP.
I was actually really surprised to see the update. I really didn’t expect her to pass so suddenly. I hope that she’s resting peacefully now, and that her family can move forward together. I agree with Melissa; I think Joan would want everyone to remember her humor more than focusing on the sadness.
I have been checking for updates ever since she was rushed from the clinic. I let my guard down and now I get this. I really thought she was going to get better. RIP Joan. You will be missed.
I thought somehow she would pull through too. RIP Joan. My condolences to her family.
Awwwwww I will miss you Joan. Now go join the party upstairs and read everyone.
Those b!tches in heaven better step up their fashion game, they have Joan Rivers to contend with now.
Love this!
I can see her at the gates of heaven walking up to meet God and saying her iconic line “Can we talk?”
@ Nicolette: Perfect perfect perfect!
….or “who are you wearing? It’s FABULOUS!”
Oh no! This is so, so sad. RIP Joan 😞
Rest in peace, Joan, and hugs to Melissa. It is horrible to lose one’s mother.
Yeah. This has to be incredibly difficult for Melissa. Although I think this was the way Joan would want to go out, no prolonged suffering, no lengthy recuperation, and no loss of function or lifestyle.
I still don’t understand how the clinic would not know how long she was deprived of oxygen. It sounds like they weren’t monitoring respiration. Maybe she shouldn’t have been resuscitated, but at least her loved ones got to say goodbye.
Bet there wasn’t an anesthesiologist there. So sad. Didn’t have to happen.
Do Not Resuscitate requests can be very sticky. Even if a patient has a DNR order on the chart along with a signed Living Will, it is typically rescinded during surgery. I have literally cared for a dead woman rushed out of the OR into the recovery room, so documentation would not show a death in the OR. It’s a strange situation.
How sad. RIP Joan, you were a lovely, funny lady…
@Kiddo.. I don’t know what the case was here but I know if you wear acrylic nails or even nail polish, it makes it difficult to watch oxygen levels. I have no idea how they know but I know it’s important.
@mayamae, Interesting. I wonder if there is a way to include a specific ‘during surgery’ clause, if the OR would have to honor it then. It sounds like a malpractice work-around, to take the expired patient out of the OR. Or at least a way to fudge statistics on operating room deaths.
Well said Kiddo ^^^
Exactly what I thought; that to pass away untroubled, and to be spared another ten years as less than her best, was a very great blessing, and in a significant way, a happy ending.
RIP you outrageous woman, and thanks for the housekeeping tips x
@Kiddo, most living wills are phrased in a way that leaves the decision in a doctor’s hand. Part of the problem regarding surgery, is that most emergencies are anesthesia-induced, and are correctable. So to let a DNR patient die because they were too deeply sedated to breathe deeply, would be unethical. They would support her respirations until the sedation wore off. In Joan’s case, she was too compromised by the time they responded.
MAYAMAE good point – the doctors explained this to me when my 95 year old father had surgery. A simple DNR order can present giant problems that I never knew about. Any time a patient dies in the OR it is a HUGE DEAL. The body is whisked away for an autopsy (hard on the family!), the case is investigated, etc. Doctors will do what they can to keep the patient alive five minutes longer to get him/her into recovery.
Well said, Kiddo.
I think back to her documentary, and how she said she wanted to work right up until the very end. She hated days on the calendar that were blank. I think it is kind of heart warming to know that she did a show the night before her surgery. I think if she had pulled through and lost her ability to communicate, it would have been very difficult for her and her vivacious, hard working personality.
@mayamae, Good point. I still think that there is also a bit of self preservation mixed in with the other considerations, though.
@Blue Marie – I think the pulse oximiter they put on your finger to measure the level of oxygen in your blood doesn’t get accurate readings if you have stuff on your nails. I can’t imagine they would put an 81 year old woman under without an anesthesiologist or more sophisticated monitoring equipment than a pulse oximiter. That has to be below the standard of care.
I think it’s really hard to comment on this. She could have simply had an MI during the procedure and arrested, she could have been too sedated, had a reaction to anaesthesia. It is VERY difficult to get accurate O2 saturations on a patient who has arrested, with or without fake nails. You need blood gasses et all. Speaking from experience, this sounds like it happened quite suddenly, but…it’s hard to know what exactly happened. It really sounds like she had a cardiac arrest and they took her to ICU and cooled her down to see if she would wake up, but it;s hard to know. Either way, its sad. She will be sorely missed.
@ Size Does Matter.. very true. And thank you for explaining that to me.
That is correct Belle Epoch. After years of working in the hospital, I can tell you that no one ever officially dies in the OR. When we heard that earlier today about her leaving ICU, I figured they had taken her off the ventilator. It just took her a little longer to pass away. She will be missed.
Very, very sad news. RIP Joan.
I am so sad Joan has passed away. I really enjoyed her on Fashion Police. Rest in peace Joan. My condolences go out to Melissa, Cooper and everyone who loved Joan.
Was just flipping channels and saw E! doing a remembrance show. I am personally heartbroken and heartbroken for her family and friends.
I’m just sad for Melissa, that she didn’t have a chance to even get used to the idea of her mother dying.
She was so dynamic… I don’t think I ever remember reading about her having health issues. Ironically, she gave an interview to Howard Stern this year saying she would want to go quick, so I guess this would suit her. Prayers to her family…
I know that’s sad.
+1. My paternal grandfather passed away very suddenly too and it was devastating. I really feel for Melissa — it’s so difficult to lose someone to whom you’re that close anyway, but to be completely blindsided and unprepared for it is even worse.
Even when expected, it’s a much more terrible blow than anyone is prepared for.
Yeah, my neighbour was a similiar age and died suddenly a couple of weeks ago. I was truly stunned, she was just so fit and healthy and lively, it’s always a shock when someone so vibrant disappears from the earth so fast. I miss her alot, much more than I would have imagined because she was kind of a pain in the a** sometimes, but she was my friend and her presence is just so noticeably absent. R.I.P. anyway Joan, sorry you went out before anyone was ready.
So sad. It’s like her life was cut short.
RIP Joan.
RIP and condolences to her loved ones.
It’s stramge. I really assumed she would come out of this. She was always a strong woman. So sad.
I had a bad feeling about it all along. The statements that Melissa was giving were very carefully worded. I don’t blame Melissa of course, this probably bought her enough time to deal with the immediate situation without a thousand reporters in her face.
This is so saddening! Heart-felt condolences to her loved ones and friends…may their warm memories bring them comfort in the days ahead, and I hope that knowing of the public’s well wishes will, in some small way, support them during this time of loss and grief.
I’m so sad. RIP.
I think the names are wrong in this post. Isn’t her grandson named Cooper? I thought Edgar was her husband.
I think the grandson’s name is Edgar Cooper and he goes by his middle name.
Thank you for clarifying. I didn’t realize he was named for his grandfather. That’s sweet.
I didn’t realize it until last week. I thought it was a sweet tribute, too.
Even though I may not be partial to her type of humour, her work ethic and hustle was unparalleled. You made a difference, Joan, and you will always be remembered for that.
Agree, I was never really a fan of hers but you cannot deny that her dedication and hard work not only cemented her place among the elite of the entertainment industry but also paved the way for women in the comedic field. And love her or hate her, the things she has accomplished have made a huge impact on not only comedy (by showing women can be funny and anything else they choose to be and still succeed) but on the entire entertainment industry. She may not have been my taste for humour but I will always remember her as an incredible, strong woman who truly done something with the years she was given and worked for everything she achieved (and if that isnt admirable then i am an elephant). RIP Joan Rivers.
Agree- her actual jokes weren’t my style (though she could be quite funny), but the woman was a trailblazer and a workhorse. If anyone haven’t seen the documentary about her, “Piece of Work”- highly recommend. It is very, very well done and really fascinating- she’s a fascinating subject and she had almost no vanity in the thing, showing all of the difficult stuff. It will make you appreciate just what Joan Rivers did for female comedians, and what a debt they do owe to her for pushing the paver down the road.
RIP Joan.
It’s too bad. But it also sounds like somebody at the surgery center she was at, screwed up. Anesthesia at her age is not something one does lightly. If your vocal cords go into complete paralysis, you can have a hard time breathing. Or she could have been too sedated. But a vocal cord surgery at her age, not in hospital, sounds off to me.
+1
Exactly this.
I read a BG last night and kept hoping it wasn’t true. This is so sad. May JoAn RIP.
What’s a BG?
I really thought Joan would pull through. She was a fighter.
It’s a blind gossip item. BlindGossip.com had posted an update to their blind titled “Letting Go” stating that her life support system was going to be shut down today. Friends, family and colleagues have been coming to say their goodbyes the past couple of days. I burst into tears reading it. I am so sorry she has passed, I was truly hoping for a miracle. It feels like I’ve lost someone I knew, she’s been around forever. She provided many laughs, and I may not have agreed with all the jokes, but I respect her for saying what was on her mind be it good or bad.
I find myself shaking my head and in disbelief. I just watched what would be her last episode of Fashion Police last tuesday and she looked as impeccable as she always does. She wasn’t ill, she was full of life which makes this even more heart breaking. This is one of the celebrity deaths that really has gotten to me. I’ll miss her, and her wonderful ability to make people laugh. May she rest in peace, and may her family find the strength to get through this, particularly Melissa.
Very nice comments on FB from Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, Eva Longoria and Larry King.
RIP Joan. You gave the world some good laughs when we needed some.
RIP , we shall miss you!!!
Her work ethic and perseverance are admirable. I just read excerpts from an interview she gave a few weeks ago, where she talked about the dark days of her career slump and Edgar’s suicide. I remember how ugly the press was to her. She bounced back and worked another quarter century.
RIP, Joan.
condolences to her loved ones.
My heart goes out to Melissa and Cooper. RIP Joan – I hope you’ve caught up with Carson and are giving him an earful. 💔
R.I.P to one of showbiz great characters and one of the funniest comedians out there today.
I feel like this is some kind of big joke on all of us and she will come out at any moment alive and well and yell “SIKE!! I am alive b@tches!!”. So sad.
How great would that be? I would totally be ok with being punk’d like that!
Stunning. So hard to process when someone goes in for a procedure healthy and robust and then doesn’t make it. I’m sorry for Melissa that she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye while her mom was conscious. I loved her statement, though, very gracious.
Our local NPR affiliate has a group of people talking right now about her groundbreaking work in Chicago. She really was a pioneer.
RIP Joan.
George Takai said what i think is perfect for Joan.
I saw her stand up in person and her energy only a few years ago was astounding.
Thoughts to her family, Melissa has lost her mother and best friend.
I’m so sad. Rest in Peace Joan.
Oh no! 🙁
RIP, Joan Rivers. My condolences to her loved ones.
I feel for Melissa. I too am an only child with only one parent left. I’m sure after her father’s suicide, Melissa really clung to Joan. Melissa’s son Cooper seems like a sweet boy, and I’m sure he’ll bring her comfort.
I’m a nurse, and typically believe malpractice cases are filed too frequently. Having said that, I hope Melissa files suit against the doctor and clinic where the procedure was performed. It was absolutely reckless to perform any kind of procedure requiring anesthesia on a woman her age. I don’t believe Joan was in a “medically induced coma”. I believe she was most likely brain dead (or close to it) and Melissa had to make the decision to remove life support. All the statements implied this – the staff are making her comfortable, etc. She was so compromised from lack of oxygen at the clinic, that no amount of hospital care could save her oxygen-deprived brain. The fact that the 911 call was made by a person unable to determine if Joan was in respiratory or cardiac arrest was very telling.
Agree with your statement. Her move from intensive care was to let her pass comfortably surrounded by family after they removed life support.
A witty woman, she leaves a big hole in the world of comedy. At least she goes having lived a full life. A tough time indeed for her family. They seem very close knit.
Agree. They couldn’t get a breathing tube in, the paramedics had to do that! It’s insane that they would give an 81 year old anesthesia (without an anesthesiologist) and not have someone who was trained in emergency procedures.
I agree, and it breaks my heart. I believe she would have lived many more years if not for this, she seemed to be in great health. RIP, Joan, I’m going to watch you on Netflix today.
Well, they may have put her in a medically-induced phenobarbital coma to slow her brain’s metabolic activity and decrease the chance of major brain injury from oxygen deprivation. But obviously I’m speculating. Given the circumstances disclosed, her death is unsurprising. I’m so sorry for her family’s loss but in a way sudden death is not a bad way to go. Small comfort, I know.
It kind of smacks of that, or she could have just thrown a plaque and had a massive MI under twilight sedation. We don’t really know. I hate it when the malpractice talk start flying before all the facts are in.
@mayamae Also I do think you assume too much here. In an emergency situation, front desk staff frequently call 911 while the more knowledgeable physicians and nurses work directly with the distressed patient to deliver life support measures, so it’s not surprising s/he didn’t know whether it was cardiac or respiratory arrest. We have no idea what the medical staff were aware of during the acute emergency.
To address one of your other points, older people frequently undergo anesthesia without dying. Old age is not an absolute contraindication to either general anesthesia or conscious sedation. As Highland Fashionista mentioned, Rivers (rest her soul) could have thrown a clot unrelated to the anesthesia. There are other possibilities as well. I’m rather shocked that as a health care provider, you would urge a family to file a malpractice claim knowing so few facts of the case. Being a nurse doesn’t give you any more ability to make that determination than the rest of us have.
@MG, of course I assume. We all are. Reports are an anesthesiologist wasn’t present. Reports are she did not have an airway until EMS arrived. We can only go on what we read. If she had been in an appropriate setting for someone her age, an anesthesiologist would have guaranteed an airway rather than waiting until help came. Regardless of the cause of her cardiac arrest, it would have been handled better in a hospital setting. These clinics are huge money makers for doctors because they don’t lose their cut to hospitals. Typically, the most fragile or high risk are weeded out, and have their procedures at a hospital.
Regarding your “shock” that “as a health care provider” I would “urge a family to file a malpractice claim knowing so few facts of the case”, please climb off your high horse. Since Melissa is not my good friend, and she most likely doesn’t not take legal advice off of gossip blogs, I have no influence over whether a suit takes place or not.
Malpractice suits and investigations are often the only way the truth comes out. I was deposed a couple of years ago regarding a patient that became critical, but did not die. According to his surgeon, the nurses were stupid and incompetent. Forced by a malpractice claim, the truth did come out. The nurses kept the surgeon advised and the surgeon called the patient a whiner and blew off his complaints.
Let’s grieve an awesome woman before we start with the lawsuits. Not one of us really knows what happened. Let’s not malign everyone until more facts are known. I’m not so upset about it if the airway wasn’t placed right away, it’s no longer ABC if you haven’t taken CPR in a while, it’s Circulation Circulation Circulation. As long as they were doing compressions and had a defibrillator on sight, they were doing their job.
Who is to say an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist wasn’t there? She at least got bag mask respirations if the story is true EMS intubated her.
My assumption, because no real facts are available, is that Joan was put on a hypothermia protocol after her cardiac arrest. THAT is hospital care that can help protect the brain after an anoxic event. It is standard practice at most hospitals, in fact, our EMS start packing patients in ice on the way to the hospital. The thought being they can cool the patient down, reduce oxygen demand in the brain and improve the outcome after a cardiac arrest. We keep them cooled and in a medically induced coma, slowly rewarm them and wake them up slowly too…I think that is what happened to Joan.
This was why I thought it was taking several days to get information–they were following a protocol, then had to rewarm dear Joan and see what her underlying brain function was.
CPR without mouth-to-mouth is only taught to the average public. It’s to allow for those unwilling to risk exposure to another’s secretions, or those giving breaths insufficiently – something common in the general public. I’ve cared for a patient who was treated only for “circulation circulation circulation”. He went down while shoveling snow and was given CPR (without MTM) by a bystander. He was massively compromised. He was alive with minimal brain activity. I personally would choose death over a living body attached to a dead brain.
Untrue. I just took BCLS for Healthcare Providers last month and they don’t start with rescue breaths anymore. It is all about circulation. It’s changed in the last two years. I don’t think you are an ICU nurse or you would know about hypothermia protocols. I manage a registry for cardiac arrests at a large referral hospital and work closely with EMS. I review EVERY cardiac arrest and acute myocardial infarction case in my hospital. I don’t disagree it’s ideal to have an airway, not fighting with you on that one! Surely they had an ambu bag and were giving her breaths if they didn’t have an ETT in place before EMS arrived.
Sites are saying Joan was given, “the same drug Michael Jackson was given when he died”, which is simply Diprivan–something I was given in a surgery center when I had an endoscopy two weeks ago, not unusual at all. My point is, the news coming out is sensationalized. Sometimes things happen and it is no one’s fault. On E! the other night they had it from Melissa she would not be suing through a source close to the family. It’s all conjecture, and opinion at this point.
+1 to everything 30 winks said above. It’s so easy to sensationalize a story like this.
And yes, the new BLS starts with chest compressions, not rescue breaths. They’ve also studied laypeople performing CPR and have found that compression-only CPR is better than interrupting compressions to give rescue breaths. The fact that mayamae can cite one patient who did poorly with this approach reflects that cardiopulmonary resuscitation is most typically unsuccessful, even if the code is perfectly run.
30 winks-
As an anesthesiologist, I need to disagree. For LAYPEOPLE in the FIELD ACLS protocol has now placed the emphasis on circulation and early shocks. But this is assuming that the cause of the arrest is an MI (that is the assumption ACLS goes on as it is one of the most common causes of non-traumatic sudden death outside of an OR setting.)
While it is possible she had a heart attack or pulmonary embolism during said procedure, I think it is much more likely that she had a respiratory event (she stopped breathing or went into laryngospasm) and they were unable to adequately ventilate her, and then she went into cardiac arrest from that.
While I agree it is not helpful to speculate, I will say that I believe something in intended happened during the procedure that could have been prevented had the right people been present. And that is what makes this so tragic, a the thought of her life cut needlessly short so some could save money or make money or thought they could practice outside the scope of their training.
Know who is going to be watching over you while you are put under. It is just as important as the person doing the procedure.
Every report seemed to indicate very little cause for hope but we are not privy to what happened and if any lawsuit is contemplated Melissa should first deal with burying her mother and coping with her grief. There may be cause to point fingers but now is not the time to broach that issue.
I am not suggesting Melissa phone up five attorneys tonight. I am giving my opinion from a medical standpoint and my experience. Similarly, if the story was Joan’s son Cooper was expelled from school for such and such, there would be a flood of teachers giving their professional experience, and questioning or condoning the rationale of expelling a student. Of course that would be followed by condescending commenters expressing shock that a teacher would say such a thing, and perhaps this is not the time to discuss the subject.
By the way, an investigation of the clinic is already taking place. Perhaps you can notify them that now is not the time to dwell on that issue.
So heartbreaking! I loved Joan and thought she was the ultimate comedian. Will definitely miss watching Fashion Police. My prayers to her family and friends.
RIP Joan. I was so hoping she’d make it.
Heaven (or whatever is preferred) is a funny place to be right now.
Tough lady and a survivor until the end. We will miss you, you crazy broad! 😉
Imagine being famous all around the world… just for being funny, smart, and interesting. Amazing. I will miss you Joan.
RIP Joan Rivers.
I was hoping she’d pull through this ordeal. I remember when Joan Rivers would host the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson when Carson was on vacation. And she was the go-to host. Nobody else held that spot but Joan. She was a legend. RIP Joan.
One of my favorite lines ever (on a recent episode of Fashion Police, guilty pleasure), Joan said “That outfit is so ugly, it’s probably good at math”. I didn’t always agree with some of her jokes, but she consistently made me laugh. Love you Joan, and RIP in style!
Lmfao!! That comment is hilarious!!! Rip
I watched that episode too! Joan was hilarious. My condolences go to her family and friends.
She got to 81 years old, something a lot of us don’t get. She got to say she was among the first to really advance women in comedy and she had both fans and a family that loved her. There are far worse lives to lead.
I think the tragedy is that it was sudden – she was clearly not expecting it. But that doesn’t take away from her life. Regardless of what I think of her, I hope she has some peace.
A lot of people go in their eighties, one way or another. Doyle Brunson, poker legend, said, “Make it to 60, odds are you make it to 70, make it to 70, odds are you make it to 80, make it to 80, and all bets are off.” RIP Joan, we’ll miss you and your amazing spirit.
I’m so sad. I love her. She was so funny and spry. Rest in peace dear Joan.
Wow. First Robin Williams, and now Joan Rivers. Two American comedic pioneers who can never, ever be imitated or replaced. We lost them both and were prepared for neither. The loss of laughter…the silence, is deafening.
Rest in peace.
First Robin, now Joan 🙁
RIP JOAN
‘Can We Talk?
+1
There will never be another Joan – totally unique, feisty, tireless and brave. My sincere condolences to Melissa and Cooper at this sad time.
She truly was one-of-a-kind. She will be missed. RIP, Joan.
Lauren Bacall ,Robin Williams now Joan.
RIP Joan, you were one of a kind.
No one will replace Joan Rivers.
Love her.
And Richard Attenborough. Very sad year.
When the going got tough, Joan got going like no one else. She lived remarkable life and will be missed for a long, long time.
I’m just another person who thought sure she’d pull through. If Joan can’t make a comeback, who can? Sad sad sad :((((
I will always be sad she was never awarded the Mark Twain Prize for Comedy. Few deserved it as much as Joan.
This is really so sad 🙁
Outside of Phyllis Diller, Joan was a true pioneer in a male dominated field. A brilliant mind with an acerbic tongue and a charitable heart. God bless her soul, she will be missed.
RIP Joan. Thanks for the laughs.
In honor of Joan, I will vow to be a little bit more like her. Work a little harder, and be a little louder.
RIP
Excellent, she would love to know that I think. I’ll do the same!!!
RIP, Joan. My heart goes out to her daughter and grandson.
The news about Joan really saddens me. I admired her work ethic, business acumen, and outrageous humor. I loved it when she won Celebrity Apprentice and really enjoyed her on Fashion Police. Joan was a true pioneer for women in comedy and overcame many personal and professional obstacles in her life. It’s heartbreaking to think just a week ago she was full of energy and going full speed ahead on all her projects. Condolences to her family. RIP Joan–bet you’re making the angels laugh.
How devastating. Rest easy, Joan. You paved the way for females for centuries to come.
while I didn’t agree with her politics, good lord was she funny. RIP Joan Rivers
I never fully understood her humour but I do admire her tenacity,perseverance,honesty and love for her family and real friends.Hoping Melissa and Cooper take peace in knowing how loved she really was.
RIP Joan.
RIP, Joan. You were one of my favorites. It feels like you were stolen from us too soon. Sending prayers out to your daughter and grandson.
Rest in peace. 🙁
I have respect for Joan. She was mean, but she told the mean truth and funny lies. She was also self deprecating! I will miss her. SO SAD! She is an ICON. A comedic icon.
I guess this shouldn’t come as a shock given the condition she was in, but still very sad and a great loss to the entertainment industry. Even though her humor wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and she definitely walked the line between funny & offensive, no one can deny that she helped pave the way for female comics. RIP Joan.
Thanks for the memories, Joan. I remember you from the days you subbed for Johnny. Your jokes about going to the ob/gyn still come back to me when I’m shaving for my annuals. You were of my mother’s age, born and raised in the same place. You were both tough broads, either hated or loved…I know my mother would have said exactly the same statement about Israel. And so would I, if I had their guts. RIP, dear Joan.
Her throat specialist should prepare for a major lawsuit.
Loved Joan’s wit and irreverence she was truly funny. I admired her for her sharp wit and her work ethic. I think I feel so shocked as she was so full of life!
RIP Joan Rivers. It is tragic, but it could have been worse as deaths go. She had no idea she would come out of that clinic the way she did. She passed without going through a slow, painful process. In a way, she was lucky, but it is still tragic.
“Selena Gomez? That college grad?”
best.response.ever.
RIP Joan.
This is so heart-breaking:( Her humor wasn’t for everyone,but she was funny. I’m going to miss her,fashion police will never be the same:(
Sitting shiva in my heart for Joan. She will always rock!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 🙁
To the very end, I had hoped that she’ll pull through.
🙁 Too sad. 🙁
Arggggghhhh!!!
:’-(
May you RIP Funny Lady
I’d love to see some vintage pics of Joan in some of these articles… she’s had an amazing long career
DailyMail has a long article about her life and certain quotes, even from recent interviews and then the trickle of tears came. I didn’t even realize some of the obstacles she overcame careerwise and how she started out. On a bad day, I could count on Joan to make me laugh when watching Fashion Police.
I loved this quote from 2013. She was a woman who lived in the moment and always moving forward as she got older, not feeling the best of life was behind her. I admire that about her.
“I have never wanted to be a day less than I am,’ she insisted in a 2013 interview with The Associated Press. ‘People say, `I wish I were 30 again.’ Nahhh! I’m very happy HERE. It’s great. It gets better and better. And then, of course, we die,’ she quipped.”
Omg i am shocked. I am really having a hard time with this news so i can’t imagine what her love ones must feel. She was so unique in every ways and so strong it felt like she was here to stay. May your soul rest in peace. In the hope to meet you someday up there….a true fan.
Hugs to Melissa. The words “resting comfortably” posted on her medical bulletin weren’t encouraging but I was hoping she’d recover. She may be 81 but she was still at the top of her game. RIP, Joan. I would prefer to exit while people still remember me.
She”s insulting angels in heaven now. 🙁
Hard to imagine a world without Joan Rivers. I am so profoundly sad
RIP Joan.
She is criticizing God for wearing white after Labor Day…RIP Joan. Will miss you much!
LOL!
Funny haole. 🙂
Mahalo. Much needed, perfectly stated.
Dear Joan,
I have loved and admired you since first watching your daytime talk show as a little girl. One of my cousins has had the honor of producing your reality show and it will now be one of my saddest regrets that I was not able to make it down to meet you in person when I had the chance last year. I told my daughters at the time, not to worry there will be many opportunities to meet Joan in the future. I said, “Joan is the type like Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller and George Burns, that will live to be over 100 with her wit completely intact.” I just cannot believe you have passed, and am so very sad for all of your loved ones!
It is rare to find such a talented, hardworking and successful celebrity who also happens to be a genuinely kind human being, treating everybody she works with with such love, assuming financial responsibility for a long list of people, busting a** like somebody a third her age. The only consolation is that you did not suffer and were able to work right up until the very end, just as you would have wanted. You are the real deal, Ms. Rivers – one of a kind and will be missed the world over. RIP dear lady and my sincerest condolences to Melissa, Cooper, and all who love you.
Love you Joan!!! Thanks for the laughs. What a trailblazer. Rest in peace. You’re a legend here on earth, we all know that.
Wasn’t a fan of Fashion Police but I think there was a lot more to her than ripping people’s outfits at award shows. She was mean but she could laugh at herself too which I respect. She knew what she was and didn’t apologize for it. I will remember her appearance on Louis fondly. I feel like that was closer to the real Joan than any act she put on.
I feel bad that it was so sudden and was when she still seemed so full of life. But it’s yet another reminder that you’re not promised tomorrow or even the next hour. And it was a blessing that neither she or her family had to go through a long ordeal before passing.
My first and fondest memory of Joan is from Muppets Take Manhattan, when she and Miss Piggy go nuts at the makeup counter.
My sympathies to her family and loved ones.
+1 She was a great sport for silliness like that. I think that’s what made her seem approachable or relatable to all ages. Life well-lived for sure.
The few times I’ve had experience with “resting comfortably” did not end the way I had hoped. So Joan River’s situation with this and life support on top of it, did not bode well for me. I’m sorry she has passed. Very sad about that.
I thought Joan was quite humorous and entertaining and I hope her family knows how much she was enjoyed by the Public Viewers. She’s one of the few celebrities who I would personally enjoy spending a dinner with. She was hilariously FAB. We are all fortunate that we enjoyed her career with her. Thoughts to her family and her fans. She will be missed, that’s for sure.
I too somehow felt she’d be around forever. Fashion Police was a great format for her style of comedy. I think a hip-hop artist they had on recently said it well; saying to Joan something like: “You should be a rapper — you got metaphors for days!”
I’m really going to miss her. I feel for Melissa. It’s hard having a pushy mom, but it just makes you miss her even more once she’s gone. And no matter how old you are, when your second parent goes, you still feel like a sad, helpless orphan. The world always feels like a safer place when you know you have a parent out there.
She brought a lot of laughter to people and made their lives a little lighter, me included. RIP, Joan! You were an impressive lady.
+1
I aspire to live a life like Joan. Maybe not necessarily in comedy but to work as hard and have as much grace and humour as she has and that I am still working and laughing until the end. I wish I could give Melissa and Cooper a hug right now. My condolences on their loss. We lost a great comedienne but they lost a mother and a grandmother.
Rest in peace, Joan. I expect there will be a lot of fun and cheer in the afterlife from now on. You worked hard your entire life so I hope you enjoy your rest and sleep well. Thank you for all the laughs.
Rest in peace, Ms. Rivers. Thanks for the laughs. What a helluva great broad and survivor.
I had a feeling when they said she was moved from the ICU into a room where she was still on life support and being ‘kept comfortable’ that they were getting ready for her final hours 🙁
Love her or hate her, she was a pioneer for women in comedy. I loved her. Was she mean in her bits? Duh, she was an insult comic! And she was just as mean to herself as anyone else. I remember a joke she told on one red carpet…”You know, when I was younger I could put my legs all the way behind my head!! But then I got really old and couldn’t do it anymore, which disappointed a great number of soldiers returning from World War Two.”
Plus, I’ve heard from a lot of people who’ve met her that when she wasn’t doing a bit, she was actually very sweet and warmhearted. I will miss her.
I wasn’t a fan of Joan’s and I didn’t really like her brand of comedy. That being said, she DID pave the way for female comedians who probably would not have a career today if it weren’t for her. I believe she was the first female comedian to be asked on Johnny Carson? She broke down boundaries in comedy and allowed women today to make a living off of it and she deserves respect for that. Also I feel sorry for her daughter Melissa and her grandson. I also did not know her husband had committed suicide which must have been super rough.
Rest in peace, forever fashionably! This woman’s persistence and work ethic were unquestionable-in a field dominated by men, she didn’t just make them notice her, she took over. That is badassness, indeed. I am sure she has met up with her Edgar, and they are happy together again. Prayers to Melissa and Cooper-Joan adored her grandson.
RIP Joan Rivers. Does anyone know if this happened during the procedure or in the immediate recovery? The vocal cord specialist could not get the airway in? Was the physician now seeing another patient or something? Was there even oxygen in the office to use? Defibrillator? Money was never the issue and she deserved more. I had a nurse anesthesiologist for my last colonoscopy, outpatient hospital, with Propofol.
I never preferred Joans brand of comedy, but it can not be denied what a trail blazer she was. She did such wonderful things for women in comedy, may she rest in peace. Condolences to her family and friends.
RIP Joan! But yuck, we are left with the likes of Chelsea Chandler and Kathy Griffin.
Beautiful comments of condolences. I was on another site that had really nasty, pointless comments. Classier people here. RIP, Joan
That and good mods. 😉
I thought the same thing, CPH. The nastiness on another site isn’t worth sifting through to find a kind or intelligent comment. Headed over here for that.
I wasn’t really a huge fan of Joan Rivers or her comedy, but that documentary A Piece of Work was a real eye-opener. I had a lot of respect for her after that. She was tough, had some real hard times, and kept going when a lot of people would have given up. She knew what work ethic means AND lived it. And, sounds like she was good at heart person by the way she took care of people and animals. Sad news for her family. I hope she didn’t suffer or even know what was going on, and I hope it was quick. I hope she and Robin Williams are having a good laugh making the angels giggle.
When I was growing up in the 70s, I read her book, Having a Baby Can Be a Scream. Right from the start, I loved Joan’s sense of humor. I loved her movie Rabbit Test, too, with Billy Crystal. I remember seeing it as a kid…so I guess I’ve loved Joan for almost 40 years. I will miss her. My deepest sympathies to Melissa, Cooper, and all who were part of her life.
RIP Joan rivers
Huge fan of Fashion Police here. So very sad to hear this news. I’ve never really been touched by a celebrity death before this one. I thought it was inspirational that she was so successful into her 80s. I wish there was something I could do for Melissa.
It seems quite quick to be taken off life support, but I bet Joan and Melissa talked about what should happen if either of them was declared brain dead I can just hear her saying ‘pull the plug baby’ .
Here is a quote of Joan’s from her book ‘I hate everyone , starting with me’
“When I die, I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action…I want Craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way. I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents. . I don’t want a eulogy; I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing “Mr. Lonely.” I want to look gorgeous, better dead than I do alive. I want to be buried in a Valentino gown and I want Harry Winston to make me a toe tag. And I want a wind machine so that even in the casket my hair is blowing just like Beyoncé’s.”
Death does not erase behaviors and ideas. She has several times mentioned her support to Israel attacks against Palestine and has said that “Palestinian children deserved to die”. No, but maybe you did Joan. Rest In Peace, if this is possible at all.
Oh grow up!
This is not the place for your political agenda
The whole internet is discussing this topic about Mrs. Rivers. Everybody is aware of it. I don’t get your rage. And this is not political, it is deeply ethical. You did not give an opinion here, you just act annoyed. Have a nice day.
I’m not enraged, but I was unaware of the whole internet talking about this issue because a. I work at a job that doesn’t give me access to be on the internet all day and b. frankly, I don’t care. But wishing someone dead because they said something stupid? That’s not nice and more people would be dead according to your rationale. Thank you for wishing me a nice day.
Well said electra. It really irks me that people get lionised and put on a pedestal when they die. Contrary to what Victoria1 said, Rivers did not merely say something ‘stupid’, what she said was cruel, racist and evil. As a so-called ‘commedienne’ she took the easy way out. She resorted to *insult humour*. Which is not true comedy. She was as funny as a dentist at a funeral. She was racist and hateful and not funny. Death doesn’t change that.
Here’s a wonderful tribute from the Telegraph from someone who worked as her opening act for the last fifteen years. Apparently their upcoming tour was to be titled, “Before They Close the Lid”:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/11077240/Joan-Rivers-My-loyal-mad-generous-galactic-friend.html
It was nice to read the anecdotes about how loyal she was to her friends and how kind and appreciative to her fans.
I am so sad about this great loss. I loved this woman. She was a national treasure. Poor Melissa, poor Cooper. 🙁
To the very end, she was still Joan. There was no decline, no quiet descent into anonymity. That’s admirable. Rest in peace, Joan.
The very first celebrity impression I ever learned as a kid was Joan Rivers! I loved watching her guest host on The Tonight Show – I thought she was 10 thousand times funnier than Johnny Carson. To those who couldn’t take her jokes, I simply will quote Joan herself: “Grow up!”
What a legend.
She was definitely a no hold bar, an equal opportunist when it came to her jokes. She told jokes that men would only say and she would say it like a man. She was a trail blazer. Condolences to loved one and friends.