Joan Rivers has died after spending several days on life support following complications from a throat surgery operation, ABC News reports. Rivers was 81.
In addition to her decades of stand-up, late night television, red carpet interviews, and acerbic fashion punditry, Rivers was a strong supporter of gay and lesbian and AIDS charities including God's Love We Deliver, and as recently as mid-August officiated her second gay wedding in New York City. Rivers also appeared in a video supporting the campaign for marriage equality in New York.
Said Rivers' daughter Melissa in a statement:
"It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother. She passed peacefully at 1:17 pm 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…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. 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."
Check out the trailer for the 2010 documentary on Rivers called A Piece of Work as well as some of her recent 'In Bed with Joan Rivers' segments with LGBT celebs, AFTER THE JUMP…
And a clip:
In Bed with Joan:
