Joan Rivers: A Trailblazing Comedian’s Resilient Journey

Joan Rivers remains an influential and entertaining figure, long after her passing on September 4, 2014, from a heart attack during a medical procedure at the age of 81. Her impact is evident on the careers of female comedians such as Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler, and Wanda Sykes. Aubrey Plaza described Rivers as ‘the most badass female comedian there ever was.’

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born Joan Alexandra Molinsky in Brooklyn, New York, on June 8, 1933, she was the daughter of a doctor and his wife. After attending Connecticut College, Rivers pursued serious acting, driving into Manhattan with aspirations. However, comedy became her calling, starting in shabby nightclubs and even performing at her parents’ country club, leading to a notorious flop.

Rivers joined the cast of Second City in 1961, appearing in revues ‘Six of One’ and ‘Alarums and Excursions.’ She often socialized at the Playboy mansion and credited Second City as where she was ‘born as a comedian.’

Breaking Ground in Comedy

In New York, Rivers performed at The Duplex, a Greenwich Village club, alongside future stars like Dick Cavett, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, and Rodney Dangerfield. Female comics were rare, seen more often as audience members or cocktail waitresses. Rivers tirelessly worked, paying Dangerfield for joke writing, and coined her trademark line, ‘Can we talk?’

The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, holds nearly 70,000 original jokes indexed on cards, testament to her organized and prolific creation of humor.

A Career Turnaround

Lenny Bruce, after witnessing Rivers bomb on stage, once sent her a note: ‘You’re right and they’re wrong.’ Her breakthrough came on Johnny Carson’s ‘Tonight Show’ on February 17, 1965, in the last 10 minutes segment known as the ‘death slot.’ Carson’s praise, ‘God, you’re funny. You are going to be a star,’ led to bookings in Las Vegas and eventually her role as Carson’s permanent guest host in the 1980s.

Struggles and Reinvention

When the new Fox network offered her a late-night show in 1986, Rivers accepted, leaving Carson feeling betrayed. The show lasted seven months, marking the first time a woman hosted a late-night network television talk show. Following the show’s failure, personal tragedies hit as her husband Edgar Rosenberg died by suicide, and Rivers discovered she was $37 million in debt due to poor investments.

Despite these setbacks, Rivers reinvented herself, creating opportunities and working tirelessly into her 60s, 70s, and 80s. She introduced the red carpet pre-show concept for E! Entertainment Television, hosted ‘Fashion Police,’ won ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ sold products on QVC, and wrote bestselling memoirs.

Legacy and Influence

Joan Rivers blazed trails for women in comedy, bringing taboo subjects onstage and showcasing resilience. Her influence is significant, paving the way for comedians like Sarah Silverman. Her legacy was reaffirmed when Jimmy Fallon welcomed her back on the ‘Tonight Show,’ ending a 28-year ban.