Most of us young adults knew Joan Rivers as the outspoken, hilariously funny host of E’s Fashion Police every week. Rivers’ life was filled with things I had never realized. She was the first person to ask celebrities on the red carpet, the question “Who are you wearing?” which is now such a fashion phenomenon. Designers, now a days, use that question as free advertising to get their name out to the public. Joan Rivers started it all. Rivers paved the way for female comedians by always speaking her mind and never being afraid of the consequences.
Born in Brooklyn, New York by the name of Joan Alexandra Molinsky, she starred in “The Joan Rivers Show” which started in 1968, and “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” in 2010. In 1982 she was made the guest hostess on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” but quickly left to start her own show; “The Late Show” in 1986.
We also know Joan Rivers, as the woman with a lot of plastic surgery, and she was proud of that. Talking and sometimes even making fun of herself for it. She often told women if they can afford it, it’s worth it for your self-esteem. Her first plastic surgery was in 1965 at the age of 32.
What most people did not know about Joan Rivers was her love for helping out several charities. A charity called “God’s Love We Deliver” based in New York City, was one of Rivers’ most beloved charities. This charity gives free meals to the people of New York City who are seriously ill. She was involved with this group for more than 20 years and was a board member and volunteer. “Guide Dogs for the Blind” and “Our House” were her other two favorite charities, she recently said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. When asked “Do you tell jokes when you deliver a meal?” Rivers responded with “No, I don’t tell jokes. But I try to make them laugh. I like to make everybody laugh. I like to get in a cab with a sour-puss driver and I always say, ‘I’m going to make him laugh by the time I get out of this cab.’
Joan Rivers also had a strong love that we do know about, which was her daughter Melissa. They starred in a reality show together on the WE channel called “Joan and Melissa” from 2011 to 2014. The show was described as “Joan and Melissa Rivers try to keep the peace while living under the same roof.” Both had a wonderful and loving relationship, which everyone could easily see. Melissa is even the executive producer of “Fashion Police” on E!. While watching E!News after hearing the death of Joan Rivers, all anyone could talk about was how much she loved Melissa.
Joan Rivers passed away September 4 in New York City at the age of 81. She suffered from complications that resulted from a throat operation. Rivers was surrounded by her close family and friends. E! said “For decades Joan has made people laugh, shattered glass ceilings and revolutionized comedy…She’s been a much beloved member of the E! family for over 20 years and the world is less funny without her in it. Today our hearts are heavy knowing Joan will not be bounding through the doors.”
