Joan Alexandra Molinsky [ 1 ] June 8, β September 4, , known professionally as Joan Rivers , was an American comedian, actress, producer, writer, and television host. She was noted for her blunt, often controversial comedic persona that was heavily self-deprecating and acerbic, especially towards celebrities and politicians, delivered in her signature New York accent.
She is considered a pioneer of women in comedy. Hosted by her mentor, Johnny Carson , the show established Rivers's comedic style. In , 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.
From the mids, she became known for her comedic red carpet awards show celebrity interviews. In addition to marketing a line of jewelry and apparel on the QVC shopping channel, Rivers authored 12 best-selling books and three LP comedy albums under her own name: Mr. Geffen In , Rivers competed alongside her daughter Melissa on the second season of The Celebrity Apprentice , ultimately winning the season. Molinsky, a doctor. At the age of eight, she created her first alter ego, J.
Sondra Meredith. Within two years, she performed in the School Cavalcades , and in , aged 16, she was vice president of the Dramatic Club. Rivers matriculated at Connecticut College ; it was a family legacy to attend the institution, as her sister had done.
Rivers repeatedly said, and it was reported in The Washington Post , [ 12 ] that she graduated summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa ; [ 13 ] 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 named Driftwood , but were never on stage at the same time. During the late s, Rivers appeared in a short off-Broadway play called Driftwood alongside Barbra Streisand.
