Joan Rivers has died

http://news.sky.com/story/1330358/comedian-joan-rivers-dies-in-new-york-aged-81

Comedian Joan Rivers Dies In New York Aged 81
The acid-tongued comic who broke the male stranglehold on late-night talk shows had been in hospital since last week.

Comedian Joan Rivers has died in New York at the age of 81, her daughter has confirmed.



The notoriously sharp-tongued comic had stopped breathing and gone into cardiac arrest at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan last week while undergoing an operation on her vocal chords.

She was put on a life support system until the day before her death when she was moved out of intensive care and "kept comfortable", but her condition deteriorated.

In a statement, her daughter Melissa Rivers said: "It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers.

"She passed peacefully at 1.17pm, surrounded by family and close friends."

She added: "My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh.

"Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Ms Rivers was known for a long television career, during which time she broke the 'glass ceiling' by becoming the first female host of a late night chat show.

More recently she was host of E!'s Fashion Police, which involved her talking about the unfortunate red carpet choices of Hollywood celebrities.

Her friend Jeanne Wolf, speaking to Sky News Tonight, said that her relatives must have known she was close to death as they made preparations.

"It's very sad. I've really been waiting for this news for days but I was hoping I wouldn't get it and when I heard the words 'she is dead' it really hit me in the heart.

"Even the people who didn't approve of her or fought her back will miss her because she was so brave and so quick and smart and talented and funny.

"I keep trying to think of jokes, which is a terrible thing to say, but it's exactly what Joan would be doing if she was in the room right now.
I think she was very insecure about her appearance. She never felt pretty.

"Cindy Adams her dear friend said they brought in a hairdresser, and a make up artist. They must have known she was near death and dressed her up and that was understanding her. She really was a total fighter.

"It was impossible for a woman to be taken seriously as a comedian. She fought to get those bookings when she thought 'they are not going to hire me any more'. She said 'I'll show them...'"

As well as her daughter, she had one grandson, Cooper. Her husband, Edgar Rosenberg, died in 1987.

Melissa Rivers added: "Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated."

I am so, so sorry to hear that, I thought Joan was indestructible. And it's doubly shocking that a routine procedure should go so horribly wrong.

Bonny, me too.  So dreadfully sad as she was such an intelligent, quick thinking but compassionate lady.

Bless her.  

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/05/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/joan-rivers-funeral/index.html?hpt=hp_c4

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Joan Rivers' funeral requests (via her book ‘I Hate Everyone…Starting with Me’) inc. paparazzi, craft services, Meryl pic.twitter.com/y1E4uO1RFT



I hope Joan gets her wish....she must be sooo annoyed at leaving this earth because of something so silly and should-have-been routine.

OMG, brilliant. A Harry Winston toe tag! In fact, who wouldn't want Harry Winston around the neck, wrist, finger or ears.

She recently said this...

During a recent talk show appearance, the comedienne made it clear that she wasn’t interested in prolonging her life if she wasn’t at the top of her game. “Do not resuscitate if I cannot get up and be able to do 90 minutes onstage in concert,” she said, joking that her lawyer tried to negotiate her down to 60 minutes if they gave her a really good opener.

Her aim was to make people laugh and she wanted this to happen after her death too.

What a great lady and a one of a kind!