Joan Rivers: A Comedy Trailblazer

Joan Rivers once joked, “I’ve had so much plastic surgery, when I die, they will donate my body to Tupperware.” Despite her passing on September 4, 2014, due to a heart attack, Rivers continues to influence female comedians like Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler, and Wanda Sykes. Aubrey Plaza describes her as “the most badass female comedian there ever was.”

Joan Rivers’ Early Life and Career

Born Joan Alexandra Molinsky in Brooklyn, New York, on June 8, 1933, she was one of two daughters of a doctor. After attending Connecticut College, she aspired to become a serious actress. This led her to Manhattan, where she performed in comedy at nightclubs and even failed a gig at her parents’ country club.

In 1961, Joan came to Second City, joining the cast in Chicago. She performed in revues like “Six of One” and “Alarums and Excursions,” and found inspiration there. “I really was born as a comedian at Second City,” she later said.

Breaking Barriers in Comedy

Back in New York, Rivers joined the comic scene at The Duplex in Greenwich Village. Performers there included future stars like Dick Cavett and Woody Allen. Female comics were a rarity. As one observer noted, women were usually just audience members or waitresses.

Rivers worked hard, sometimes paying Rodney Dangerfield to craft jokes, and developed her trademark line, “Can we talk?” Her meticulous collection of comedy material now resides at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York.

Lenny Bruce, her comedy hero, famously left her a note after a rough night: “You’re right and they’re wrong.” Her big break came in 1965 when she appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. He praised her on-air, saying, “God, you’re funny. You are going to be a star.”

Rise to Stardom

This appearance led to bookings in Las Vegas, a rise in confidence, and real stardom. Carson supported her career and introduced her to her future husband, Edgar Rosenberg. By the 1980s, she was Carson’s regular guest host on “The Tonight Show,” seen as his likely successor.

In 1986, she accepted an offer from the Fox network for her late-night show, marking Rivers as the first woman to host a national late-night talk show. However, this strained her relationship with Carson and the show only lasted seven months.

Personal and Professional Struggles

Her personal life unraveled with the cancellation of her show and Rosenberg’s suicide, for which her daughter Melissa blamed Rivers. Left financially ruined by Rosenberg’s poor investments, she found herself $37 million in debt.

Despite these setbacks, Rivers reinvented herself. She continued working passionately into her 80s. Her later achievements included co-creating E! Entertainment Television’s red carpet pre-shows and hosting “Fashion Police.” She also won “Celebrity Apprentice” and sold products on QVC while writing bestselling memoirs.

Legacy

Rivers’ comedy blazed new trails for women. By addressing taboo topics on stage, she paved the way for others like Sarah Silverman. Despite being barred by Johnny Carson from “The Tonight Show,” her ban was lifted by Jimmy Fallon 28 years later, only six months before her passing.

Joan Rivers remains a model of resilience and a pioneer who influenced the comedy world profoundly.