Joan Rivers
Born 1933 · Age 92
American comedienne, actress, writer, producer and television host; pioneer for women in comedy, known for acerbic, self‑deprecating style and red‑carpet interviewing.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth — Joan Alexandra Molinsky
Born in Brooklyn, New York to Russian Jewish immigrant parents Beatrice and Meyer Molinsky.
Creates first alter ego 'J. Sondra Meredith'
At age eight Joan created an early comic alter ego, an early sign of her performance instincts.
Vice President of Dramatic Club at school
At Adelphi Academy she was vice president of the Dramatic Club and performed in School Cavalcades.
Early non‑entertainment jobs
Worked as Rockefeller Center tour guide, proofreader at an ad agency, and fashion consultant at Bond Clothing Stores (pre‑showbiz).
Graduated Adelphi Academy
Graduated from the Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, a college preparatory day school.
Matriculated at Connecticut College
Began college at Connecticut College (family legacy); later transferred to Barnard.
Graduated Barnard College (B.A. English literature & anthropology)
Completed degree at Barnard College in 1954 with a B.A. in English literature and anthropology.
First marriage (James Sanger) — annulled
Married James Sanger in 1955; marriage lasted six months and was annulled.
Appeared in off‑Broadway play 'Driftwood' with Barbra Streisand
Performed in the short off‑Broadway production Driftwood, which ran about six weeks in the late 1950s.
Joined The Second City (MainStage debut)
Made MainStage debut in Second City's seventh revue, Alarums and Excursions; later credited Second City as foundational for her comedy.
Formed cabaret act 'Jim, Jake & Joan'
Performed with Jim Connell and Jake Holmes in cabaret act; led to an appearance in Once Upon a Coffee House (film credit).
Jim, Jake & Joan break up
Group disbanded after a public disagreement over politics during a scheduled performance for Bobby Kennedy's campaign.
Wrote/appeared on Candid Camera; gag writer work
Worked as a gag writer and participant on Candid Camera in 1965, expanding TV credits.
Album release: Mr. Phyllis and Other Funny Stories
Released comedy LP Mr. Phyllis and Other Funny Stories (Warner Bros), one of her early recordings.
Breakthrough: First Tonight Show appearance (Johnny Carson)
Made first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (Feb 17); Carson told her 'you're gonna be a star.'
Married Edgar Rosenberg
Married TV producer Edgar Rosenberg on July 15, 1965; they remained married until his death in 1987.
Praised by NYT critic Jack Gould
In 1968 The New York Times critic Jack Gould called Rivers 'quite possibly the most intuitively funny woman alive.'
Film role: The Swimmer (small role)
Had a small role in the cult drama The Swimmer (1968) starring Burt Lancaster.
Premiere: That Show with Joan Rivers (syndicated daytime talk)
Short‑lived syndicated daytime talk show premiered Sept 16, 1968; each episode centered on a theme and celebrity guests.
Album release: The Next to Last Joan Rivers Album
Released another LP (Buddah Records) continuing stand‑up recordings.
Narrator for 'The Adventures of Letterman' (The Electric Company)
Narrated the animated segment from 1972 to 1976.
Broadway debut: Fun City
Made Broadway debut in the play Fun City which opened Jan 2, 1972; the production ran for nine performances.
Co‑wrote TV movie 'The Girl Most Likely To...'
Co‑wrote and contributed the story for the TV black comedy which became a ratings success.
Published first book 'Having a Baby Can Be a Scream'
Published a humor book addressing gynecological anxieties; first of many books.
Directed and wrote film 'Rabbit Test'
Directed, wrote and co‑starred in Rabbit Test (1978), Billy Crystal's film debut; film earned $12 million at box office.
Named permanent guest host on The Tonight Show
By August 1983 Johnny Carson established Rivers as his first permanent guest host.
Carnegie Hall performance & breakout year
Performed at Carnegie Hall (Feb 1983), released the best‑selling album What Becomes a Semi‑Legend Most? and hosted SNL on April 9.
Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album
Nominated for a Grammy for What Becomes a Semi‑Legend Most? (nomination year cited as 1984).
Premiere: The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers (Fox)
Became the first woman to host a late‑night network talk show when her Fox series premiered Oct 9, 1986; marked a break with mentor Johnny Carson.
Voice role in Spaceballs
Provided voice of Dot Matrix in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), a film later regarded as a cult classic.
Fired by Fox; end of The Late Show
Fired from The Late Show on May 15, 1987 after disputes with Fox executives, including over her husband as producer.
Husband Edgar Rosenberg committed suicide
Edgar Rosenberg died by suicide on Aug 14, 1987; a major personal and career turning point for Rivers.
Premiere: The Joan Rivers Show (daytime)
Daytime syndicated talk show premiered Sept 5, 1989; ran five seasons and relaunched Rivers' TV career.
Launch: Joan Rivers Classics Collection on QVC
Started designing and selling jewelry, apparel and beauty products on QVC; eventually became a hugely successful revenue stream.
Wins Daytime Emmy — Outstanding Talk Show Host
Awarded Daytime Emmy in 1990 for Outstanding Talk Show Host for The Joan Rivers Show.
Begins designing for QVC (year cited as 1990)
Started designing and appearing on QVC in 1990 — this became a major business line over the following decades.
Published 'Still Talking'
Released the book Still Talking (1991), which discussed her career and her husband's suicide.
Begins co‑hosting E! pre‑awards Golden Globes coverage with daughter Melissa
Joan and Melissa hosted E!'s Golden Globe pre‑show in 1994, beginning a long career in red‑carpet interviewing.
Tony Award nomination for 'Sally Marr...and Her Escorts'
Nominated for Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her title performance in Sally Marr, which ran on Broadway in 1994.
Joan and Melissa begin hosting E!'s Academy Awards red carpet
In 1995 they started the annual Academy Awards pre‑awards show for E!, helping create modern red‑carpet reporting.
Published 'Bouncing Back'
Released self‑help book 'Bouncing Back: I've Survived Everything ... and I Mean Everything ... and You Can Too!'
Launch: Radio show on WOR (New York)
Began hosting her own radio show on WOR in New York, a role she held for several years beginning March 1997.
Guest speaker at American Operating Room Nurses' San Francisco Conference
Appeared as a guest speaker at a professional medical conference in 2000.
Signs three‑year TV Guide Channel contract for red carpet work
Left E! for a contract (reported value $6–8 million) to cover awards red carpets for the TV Guide Channel (2003–2006).
Voice cameo in Shrek 2
Provided a brief voice cameo in the animated film Shrek 2 (2004).
Performs at 79th Royal Variety Show
Performed at Liverpool Empire Theatre in front of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on Dec 3, 2007.
Invited to 'We Are Most Amused' for Prince Charles' 60th birthday
Participated in a high‑profile comedy event celebrating Prince Charles' 60th birthday in 2008; only American besides Robin Williams invited.
Commended by City of San Diego for HIV/AIDS philanthropy
Recognized for philanthropic work on behalf of the HIV/AIDS community in San Diego in 2008.
Competitor and winner: The Celebrity Apprentice
Competed alongside daughter Melissa on Celebrity Apprentice (2009) and was announced the winner on May 10, 2009 (finalist May 3, 2009).
Premiere: How'd You Get So Rich? (TV Land)
Reality show in which Joan interviewed self‑made millionaires; ran two seasons beginning 2009.
QVC sales milestone (cumulative by 2014)
Joan's QVC line (jewelry, apparel) grew into a major revenue stream; by 2014 cumulative sales of her products on QVC exceeded $1 billion.
Documentary premiere: 'Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work' (Sundance)
Documentary premiered at Sundance (Jan 25, 2010), chronicling 14 months of her life and career.
Begins hosting Fashion Police on E!
Joined E!'s Fashion Police as a co‑host on Sept 10, 2010; show later expanded from 30 mins to 1 hour (Mar 9, 2012).
Premiere: 'Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?' (We TV)
Reality show starring Joan and daughter Melissa premiered in 2011 and ran through 2014 (four seasons).
GoDaddy Super Bowl commercial
Appeared in a GoDaddy commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLV (2011).
Published 'I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me'
Released her 11th book; it made The New York Times Best Seller list for several weeks.
Launch: 'In Bed with Joan' online talk show (YouTube)
Started web series In Bed With Joan, an independently produced weekly show featuring intimate interviews.
Published 'Diary of a Mad Diva'
Released her 12th book on July 1, 2014; it became a New York Times Best Seller and later won a posthumous Grammy (2015) for Best Spoken Word Album (audiobook).
Medical emergency during throat procedure
Suffered complications and stopped breathing during an outpatient throat procedure in Manhattan on Aug 28, 2014; resuscitated and transferred to Mount Sinai.
Death (brain damage due to lack of oxygen)
Died on Sept 4, 2014 at Mount Sinai Hospital after never awakening from an induced coma; Medical Examiner cited brain damage from lack of oxygen.
Private memorial service at Temple Emanu‑El
Private memorial held Sept 7, 2014 in Manhattan attended by ~1,500 people including many celebrities; ashes later scattered by daughter in Wyoming.
Federal review finds clinic errors in procedure
Federal officials reported the clinic made multiple mistakes before and during the procedure (Nov 10, 2014).
Posthumous Grammy Award (Best Spoken Word Album)
Received the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in 2015 for the audiobook of Diary of a Mad Diva (posthumous).
Malpractice suit settled
Melissa Rivers' malpractice lawsuit against the clinic/doctors was settled in May 2016 for an undisclosed amount; doctors accepted responsibility.
Rolling Stone ranks her among top stand‑up comics
Rolling Stone magazine ranked Joan Rivers sixth on its list of the 50 best stand‑up comics of all time (2017, posthumous recognition).
Television Academy Hall of Fame induction (posthumous)
Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in October 2017 (posthumous honor).
Key Achievement Ages
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