Earlier today, Melissa Rivers released a press statement to let the world know that her mother, Joan Rivers, passed away. She went peacefully, surrounded by her family and close friends. She was 81. Since starting her career in 1950, in a play where she played a lesbian with a crush on a then-unknown Barbara Streisand, she never stopped working. She lived to be on stage, even though she admitted to being terrified every time before a show. She had a full career, from guest hosting The Tonight Show, to fronting The Late Show With Joan Rivers, to being the face of Fashion Police. Sure, she wasn't perfect, and she'd be the first to admit that, but she helped bust open the doors for women in comedy.
At the end of her press statement, Melissa beautifully said, "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." So, in honor of Joan Rivers, and to respect her daughter's wishes, get to know the comedian better and watch her fearless comedy, and the joy she experienced when she made other people laugh.
And, on that note, let's remember Joan's fitting description of what would happen when she died, "I've had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware."
Hope Schreiber is a contributing writer. She tweets here.