After a week of being hospitalized after a routine vocal cord operation, Joan Rivers has passed away at the age of 81. Her first issues started when she stopped breathing at an endoscopic clinic on August 28, when she was immediately rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. For the past week she has been in a medically-induced coma and on life support, but was in stable enough condition to be moved from the Intensive Care Unit to her own private room as of yesterday. Unfortunately, after being taken off of life support, she was unable to recover. "It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers," Melissa Rivers said in a statement today. "She passed peacefully at 1:17 p.m. surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother."
The late host of E! Fashion Police was a comedian and red-carpet critic like no other. The comedy queen had a star-studded life that started with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, which launched her career into one of Hollywood parties, television shows, fashion lines, book deals and Emmy wins. While later in life she was known for her plastic surgeries (of which she loved to be the first to joke about) and her no-hold barred fashion commentary, she was first and foremost known as a comedian that lived to perform. "My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh," Rivers said. "Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."
