A True Legacy of Resilience laughter and an Indomitable Spirit
Joan Rivers My Heroine!
As a laughter Therapist, comedy writer I always looked up to unconventional heroes Robin Williams, Joey Diaz, Binky, Spike Milligan to name a few and Joan Rivers has to be in the top 5 of the most influential comedians for me.
Some of her jokes left me in tears the first time I heard them, completely shocking me to my core.
The first I heard watching a re-run on the Johnny Carson Show, where she is actually being challenged, that men prefer women with intelligence rather than beauty (I am keeping this paragraph purposefully short as it is actually as what was said was much more controversial)
But Joan responds “Please, men don’t put their hands up a lady’s skirt for her library card!”
Or “My Vagina was so dry a herd of camels followed me home”
Obviously I use a lot of Joan’s material in my writings as a nod to her greatness and comedic genius.
As I said, Joan Rivers was more than just a comedian; she was a force of nature, a trailblazer who broke barriers in the male-dominated world of comedy. Born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, she rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most iconic and influential figures in entertainment. Her journey to stardom was fraught with hardships, rejections, personal losses, and constant reinvention, but through it all, she remained unapologetically herself.
Joan was raised in a Russian-Jewish immigrant family in Brooklyn and later Larchmont, New York. Her parents had high expectations for her, urging her to pursue a more traditional career. She attended Barnard College, where she graduated with a degree in English literature and anthropology. However, her real passion lay in performing.
In the 1950s, Joan moved to New York City to chase her dream of becoming an actress. She took various odd jobs, including working as a fashion consultant and a writer for an advertising agency. She also performed stand-up comedy in small clubs for 6 straight years struggling to make a name for herself in an era when female comedians were rare and not taken seriously.
One of her biggest early breaks came finally in 1965 when after auditioning seven times earlier and being rejected on every occasion, her agent even gave her contract back saying she was effectively “No good” and as happens to me all of the time “You’re simply not funny!”
She finally appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Carson, who was notoriously selective about comedians he endorsed, praised Rivers and told her she was going to be a star. That moment was pivotal—it opened doors for her, leading to more television appearances and stand-up opportunities. However, despite Carson’s initial support, their relationship soured when she later launched her own late-night talk show, which he saw as a betrayal.
In 1983, Joan was officially named the permanent guest host for The Tonight Show, a position she held until 1986. During this time, she developed a strong audience and was considered Carson’s protégé. However, despite Carson’s initial support, their relationship soured in 1986 when she launched her own late-night talk show, The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, on the newly formed Fox network. Carson saw this as a betrayal, as he believed she should have informed him about the move personally.
The fallout was devastating for Rivers, both professionally and personally
According to Joan, she attempted to call Carson multiple times before the official announcement, but he refused to take her calls. The rift was permanent—Carson never spoke to her again, and she was effectively banned from The Tonight Show for nearly 30 years.
The fallout was devastating for Joan, both professionally and personally. Many in the industry viewed her as disloyal, and her new show faced stiff competition, struggling in ratings against Carson’s dominance in late-night television. The Late Show was eventually cancelled in 1987, marking a significant setback in her career.
Just months after the cancellation of her show, Joan faced an unimaginable personal tragedy. Her husband, Edgar Rosenberg, who had been her manager, died by suicide in 1987. The loss shattered her, both emotionally and financially. She was left in significant debt and found herself blacklisted from much of Hollywood.
Many thought Joans’ career was over, but she proved them wrong. She threw herself into work, making appearances on television, doing stand-up, and even launching her own line of jewellery and fashion on QVC. Her resilience and ability to reinvent herself became one of her greatest strengths.
She re -established herself in the public eye through her unfiltered and brutally honest persona. By the 1990s, she had reinvented herself as a red-carpet correspondent, pioneering what would later become a staple of entertainment reporting. Her sharp critiques of celebrity fashion on shows like Live from the Red Carpet made her both loved and feared in Hollywood.
Despite her setbacks, Joan maintained a relentless work ethic. She authored multiple books, many of them bestsellers, including Enter Talking and I Hate Everyone… Starting with Me. She won an Emmy for her daytime talk show The Joan Rivers Show and continued to tour as a stand-up comedian well into her 80s.
One of her biggest career resurgences came with Fashion Police, where she delivered hilarious and often scathing commentary on celebrity fashion. The show introduced her to a new generation of fans who admired her fearless comedy and refusal to be censored.
Joan’s final years were just as eventful as the rest of her career. She continued working tirelessly, performing stand-up, making television appearances, and engaging with fans through social media. She never shied away from controversy and often courted it intentionally.
In 2014, she underwent what was meant to be a routine throat procedure but suffered complications that led to her untimely death on September 4, 2014, at the age of 81. Her passing left a void in the world of comedy, but her legacy endures.
Joan Rivers paved the way for countless female comedians who followed in her footsteps, from Kathy Griffin to Amy Schumer. She demonstrated that women could be just as brash, fearless, and successful in comedy as men. Her resilience in the face of adversity, her ground breaking career moves, and her unapologetic persona make her one of the most influential comedians of all time.
Joan Rivers’ life was a rollercoaster of triumphs and tragedies. From being rejected and struggling in small comedy clubs to becoming a household name, she never let setbacks define her. She shattered glass ceilings in comedy, television, and fashion commentary, always pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms.
Her ability to turn pain into humour, to laugh at herself, and to keep moving forward no matter what made her a legend. As she once said, “I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking.” That fearlessness is what made Joan Rivers unforgettable and why her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
A little known fact about Joan Rivers which demonstrates her selflessness and resilience. Joan found solace in her psychiatrist, Dr. Mark Held, who became a crucial source of emotional support. However, tragedy struck again when Held was diagnosed with AIDS. At a time when the disease was highly stigmatized, Rivers remained steadfast in her support for him. She cared for him as his health deteriorated, offering companionship and financial assistance. His death in 1989 was yet another devastating blow, but Rivers continued to advocate for AIDS awareness and research, showing her deep compassion beyond the comedy world.
