Who Is Joan Rivers? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on June 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, Joan Rivers' journey to stardom began in the 1950s. Over her illustrious career, she became synonymous with stand-up comedy and television hosting. Rivers was celebrated for her fearless style of humor and her penchant for speaking the truth, no matter how blunt it might be. Her legacy includes numerous awards, including an Emmy, and she paved the way for future female comedians.
| Occupation | Soap Opera Actress |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 8, 1933 |
| Age | 81 Years |
| Birth Place | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 4 September, 2014 |
| Died Place | Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
Popularity
Joan Rivers's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though Joan Rivers has passed, her physical presence continues to be remembered. She stood at approximately 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) tall and was known for maintaining her figure throughout her life. While specific weight figures varied during her career, Rivers was often seen as a style icon, embracing fashion with confidence.
During her 55-year career as a comedian, her tough-talking style of satirical humor was both praised and criticized as truthful, yet too personal, too gossipy, and very often abrasive. Nonetheless, with her ability to "tell it like it is", she became a pioneer of contemporary stand-up comedy.
Commenting about her style, she told biographer Gerald Nachman, "Maybe I started it. We're a very gossipy culture. All we want to know now is private lives." However, her style of humor, which often relied on making jokes about her own life and satirizing the lives of celebrities and public figures, was sometimes criticized as insensitive.
Her jokes about Elizabeth Taylor and Adele's weight, for instance, were often commented on, although Rivers would never apologize for her humor.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Joan Rivers was married twice during her lifetime. Her first marriage was to James Sanger in 1955, which ended in divorce in 1956. She later married Edgar Rosenberg in 1965, and they had one daughter, Melissa Rivers. Following Edgar's tragic death in 1987, Joan was known for her candid reflections on relationships, delving into her dating experiences without reservation. While there were several rumored relationships throughout her life, she remained single after her husband's passing.
The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers premiered on October 9, 1986, but Rivers' tenure was short-lived. When Rivers challenged Fox executives, who wanted to fire her husband Edgar Rosenberg as the show's producer, the network fired them both on May 15, 1987.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her passing in 2014, Joan Rivers had an estimated net worth of around $150 million. Her wealth was accumulated through various ventures, including television shows, comedy tours, fashion lines, and bestselling books. Rivers' sharp business acumen helped her remain financially successful even as she navigated the ups and downs of the entertainment industry.
As an unknown stand-up comedian out of college, she struggled for many years before finding her comic style. She did stints in the Catskills and found that she disliked the older style of comedy at the time, such as Phyllis Diller's, who she nevertheless felt was a pioneer female comedian.
Her breakthrough came at The Second City in Chicago in 1961, where she was dubbed "the best girl since Elaine May", who also got her start there. But May became her and fellow comedian Treva Silverman's role model, as Rivers saw her as "an assertive woman with a marvelous, fast mind and, at the same time, pretty and feminine".
It was also there that she learned "self reliance", she said, "that I didn't have to talk down in my humor" and could still earn an income by making intelligent people laugh. "I was really born as a comedian at Second City. I owe it my career."
Career, Business and Investments
Joan Rivers' career spanned more than five decades, during which she showcased her talents in stand-up comedy, television shows, and films. She was a pioneering figure in late-night television and became a household name as the red carpet host for E! Entertainment. Rivers also ventured into several business opportunities, launching her own line of jewelry and fashion on QVC. Her fearless attitude and comedic timing allowed her to remain relevant and influential until her final days.
Rivers started her career in comedy clubs in Greenwich Village alongside her peers George Carlin, Woody Allen, and Richard Pryor. She then rose to prominence in 1965 as a guest on The Tonight Show. Hosted by her mentor, Johnny Carson, the show established Rivers's comedic style.
In 1986, with her own rival program, The Late Show with Joan Rivers, Rivers became the first woman to host a late night network television talk show. She subsequently hosted The Joan Rivers Show (1989–1993), winning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
From the mid-1990s, she became known for her comedic red carpet awards show celebrity interviews. Rivers co-hosted the E! celebrity fashion show Fashion Police from 2010 to 2014 and starred in the reality series Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? (2011–2014) with daughter Melissa Rivers.
Social Network
Although Joan Rivers is no longer alive, her social media presence continues to resonate with her fans. Her official accounts on platforms like Twitter and Instagram keep her legacy alive, providing quotes, clips from her performances, and updates about her family and relationships. Fans continue to celebrate her life and humor through social media, sharing memories and snippets of her iconic work.
Rivers repeatedly said, and it was reported in The Washington Post, that she graduated summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa; however, biographers James Spada and Leslie Bennetts found that these were fabrications, as with other statements such as sharing a lesbian kiss in a play with Barbra Streisand (they did both appear in a play nam
ed Driftwood, but were never on stage at the same time).
Education
Joan Rivers graduated from Barnard College in 1954 with a degree in English literature. Her education played a crucial role in shaping her writing skills, paving the way for her career as a comedian and television personality. Rivers often reflected on her academic background, showcasing her intellect and wit in her comedic routines.
In conclusion, Joan Rivers remains a beacon of inspiration in the entertainment world. Her approach to comedy and business continues to resonate, ensuring that her influence endures even into 2025 and beyond. While we honor her legacy, we can only imagine the new heights she might have reached had she continued her journey.
Molinsky, a doctor. She had an elder sister named Barbara Waxler. Rivers spent her early life in Prospect Heights and Crown Heights in Brooklyn. At the age of eight, she created her first alter ego, J. Sondra Meredith.
She attended the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture School, a progressive and now-defunct school, and Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, a college preparatory day school, where she was co-chair of her school, due to her past experiences in theatrical activities.
Within two years, she performed in the School Cavalcades, and in 1949, aged 16, she was vice president of the Dramatic Club. She graduated from the Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, in 1951, at 18. In her adolescence, Rivers relocated with her family to Larchmont, north of New York City.
