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Joan Rivers Dies: Hollywood Remembers a Comedy Trailblazer

Less than a month after the world lost Robin Williams, comedienne Joan Rivers also passed away, taking a bit of the laughter with her.In the wake of the news, many celebrities, fellow comedians and actors mourned Rivers' passing by sharing their thoughts and memories:

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Less than a month after the world lost Robin Williams, comedienne Joan Rivers also passed away, taking a bit of the laughter with her.
The caustic, controversial and groundbreaking funny lady died Thursday at the age of 81 after being taken off life support. She had been put in a medically induced coma a few days before, after she stopped breathing during surgery on her vocal chords.
Joan Rivers, comedienne and Fashion Police host, dies at 81

In the wake of the news, many celebrities, fellow comedians and actors mourned Rivers' passing by sharing their thoughts and memories:David Letterman: Here's a woman, a real pioneer for other women looking for careers in stand-up comedy. And talk about guts -- she would come out here and sit in this chair and say some things that were unbelievable, just where you would have to swallow pretty hard... but it was hilarious... the force of her comedy was overpowering.

Giuliana Rancic: It is almost impossible to describe how much I adored Joan and how much she has meant to me. She was not only the funniest woman I have ever met but was incredibly loving, honest, and lived her life with no regrets. Working with her for the last 13 years has been one of the true joys of my life. She could put a smile on your face, instantly, no matter how hard your day was ... My life is so much fuller and happier because I got to share it with this beautiful person, a true genius. I woke up today unable to grasp what the world will be like without her and at the same time feel so privileged to have called her my friend.

Louis C.K.: I feel very lucky that I knew Joan Rivers and I feel very sad that she's gone. She was a great comedian and a wonderful person. I never saw someone attack a stage with so much energy. She was a controlled lightning bolt. She was a prolific and unpredictable, joyful joke writer. She loved comedy. She loved the audience. She was a great actress and should have done that more. She loved living and working. She was kind. She was real. She was brave. She was funny and you just wanted to be around her. I looked up to her. I learned from her. I loved her. I liked her. And I already miss her very much. It really f---ing sucks that she had to die all of a sudden.