Joan Rivers was an American comedian, talk show host, producer and writer who pioneered television and earned her title as one of the greatest comedians of all time.  

Rivers started her career in the early 1960s at Greenwich Village male-dominated comedy clubs. She performed sets along fellow legends George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Woody Allen. Fighting the “women aren’t funny” stigma that was popularized in the 60s, Rivers spent years refining her technique.

After years of dirty nightclubs, stale audiences and doubt, she finally got her break in 1965 as a guest on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. This was the first of many successful television appearances as she would soon go on to release everything from books to albums.

 After being the first permanent guest host of the Tonight show from 1983 to 1986, Rivers became the first female late night host with the debut of Late Night With Joan Rivers. Though short-lived, she bounced back and struck gold with her Emmy award winning morning show The Joan Rivers Show. Rivers lit up homes everywhere with her hilarious roasts and scathing gossip.

Rivers started out in comedy being belittled for being a woman and not being seen as a real comedian, to making male comedians nervous in her presence. Amidst her many setbacks, Rivers never lost hope and believes her shortcomings are what led to her success. 

“It is the bad that teaches you, makes you think; good takes care of itself and only gets better,” Rivers said.