Advertisement

Joan Rivers

Birth Name:
Joan Alexandra Molinsky
Birth Place:
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Profession
Actress, Writer, Producer, Director, Soundtrack
Joan Rivers

Fast Facts

  • Graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard College with a degree in English literature and anthropology in 1954
  • Debuted in a short-running production of "Driftwood․"
  • Worked as a Rockefeller Center tour guide, an advertising writer and a fashion consultant before becoming a comedian
  • Quote: "New York was the magic city․․․New York was Oz․ All I wanted to do was get out of Brooklyn and get into Oz․"
  • Quote: "What pleasure you feel when you've kept people happy for an hour and a half․ They've forgotten their troubles․ It's great․ There's nothing like it in the world․ When everybody's laughing, it's a party․"
  • Quote: "(On the acidic wit that made her a star): "I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking․""
  • Quote: "(On younger female comics): "They all come up to me and say, 'Without you, I couldn't be here'․․․I still could take every one of you with one hand behind my back․ [Get] outta here․ Talk like that at my funeral, but not till then․""
  • Appeared on numerous talk shows early in her career, including "The Tonight Show" hosted by Johnny Carson, where she became a regular guest host starting in 1983
  • Best known as a stand-up comedian, actress, and reality show host whose often caustic humor made her a comedy icon and broke down barriers for other female comics
  • Created the "Fashion Police" series in 2010 alongside co-hosts Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos
  • Interviewed celebrities about their fashion apparel at red carpet events from 1996 to 2004
  • Owned a jewelry line called "The Joan Rivers Collection," which she promoted on the QVC channel and The Shopping Channel in Canada

Awards

  • 1978Stinker Award - Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!):Nominated
  • 1990Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host:Winner
  • 1991Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host:Nominated
  • 1991Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Special Class Writing:Nominated
  • 1992Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host:Nominated
  • 1992Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Achievement in Writing - Special Class:Nominated
  • 1993Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Talk Show Host:Nominated
  • 1993Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Achievement in Writing - Special Class:Nominated
  • 2009Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program:Nominated
  • 2011WIN Award - Actress Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 2012INOCA TV - Best Guest Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series:Winner
  • 2014MTV Movie Award - Best Cameo:Nominated
  • 2014WIN Award - Actress Comedy Series:Nominated
Advertisement