Joan Rivers

Joan Alexandra Molinsky, better known by her stage name Joan Rivers, was an American actress, comedian, producer, writer, and television host. She was known for her often contentious humorous demeanor, which was typically self-deprecating and sarcastic, particularly against celebrities and politicians. Many commentators regard her as a pioneer of women in comedy.

Rivers began her career at Greenwich Village comedy clubs alongside George Carlin, Woody Allen, and Richard Pryor. She became famous after appearing on The Tonight Show in 1965. Rivers' humorous style was created on the show, which was hosted by her mentor, Johnny Carson. Rivers became the first woman to host a late-night network television talk show in 1986, with her own competing program, The Late Show with Joan Rivers. She went on to host The Joan Rivers Show (1989–1993), for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host. She rose to prominence in the mid-1990s for her hilarious celebrity interviews on red carpet awards shows. Rivers authored 12 best-selling books and three LP comedy albums under her own name, in addition to marketing a line of jewelry and apparel on the QVC shopping channel.

Rivers was dubbed "quite perhaps the most naturally funny lady alive" by New York Times television critic Jack Gould in 1968. She was named sixth on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 50 greatest stand-up comedians of all time in 2017, and she was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in October of the same year.

Nationality: U.S