Joan Rivers has passed away at the age of 81. The legendary comedienne and Fashion Police host was taken off life support today after her daughter, Melissa Rivers, made the incredibly difficult decision. Sources say a funeral will likely be planned for Sunday.
Rivers was moved out of ICU and into a private hospital room earlier in the week, according to a statement released by Melissa on Wednesday, and was made as comfortable as possible. The room had reportedly been “decorated by celebrity wedding planner Preston Bailey with flowers, bows, plants” and friends and family have been a constant fixture at her side.
Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Rivers (born Joan Alexandra Molinsky) attended Connecticut College and Barnard College where she studied English literature and anthropology. She performed her pioneering brand of crass, self-deprecating, celebrity-targeted stand-up routines in comedy clubs throughout New York City in the 1960s before gaining national recognition on The Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show and later The Carol Burnett Show. Over the years she has been nominated for seven Daytime Emmys (one of which she won), a Grammy and a Tony and has also written 12 books.
Rivers initially went into cardiac arrest August 28th during a medical procedure in New York City and was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital. She leaves behind her daughter, Melissa, and grandson, Cooper Endicott.
[Lead image via Getty / Jared Wickerham / Staff]
