After complications from throat surgery, comedian and media personality Joan Rivers has passed away. She was 81 years old. While not known primarily for her screen work, Rivers was a trailblazer for female comedians going back to the 1950s. She was a popular guest host on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson before becoming a red carpet staple at awards shows for the last three decades.
Rivers’ voice and style has become recognizable all on it’s own and has been included in numerous films and television shows. Rivers herself appeared in Mel Brooks‘ SPACEBALLS as Princess Vespa’s droid Dot, a role many movie fans will instantly recognize. She also had roles in SHREK 2, MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN, SERIAL MOM, and many others. She even had a cameo in IRON MAN 3. In recent years, Rivers has courted controversy for her rapidly changing physical appearance and comments deemed racially insensitive. But, her personality will always be immortal.
I highly recommend checking out the 2010 documentary JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK which gives an insight into the hilarious ups and downs in Rivers’ life.
Joan Rivers 1933-2014.