Joan Rivers dead: Comedienne dies aged 81

Joan Rivers has died at the age of 81, daughter Melissa Rivers has announced.

The comedienne had been on life support in Mount Sinai Hospital since having a cardiac arrest in New York last week.

In a statement, her daughter said Joan Rivers died surrounded by family and friends, and she thanked hospital staff for their “amazing care”.

Joan Rivers stopped breathing during a procedure on her vocal chords at an outpatient clinic on August 28.

Joan Rivers died on Thursday, September 4, at 1.17 PM (photo Getty Images)

Melissa Rivers’ statement 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.”

On September 3, Melissa Rivers issued a brief statement that her mother had been moved from Mount Sinai Hospital’s ICU into a private room, without any comment concerning Joan Rivers’ condition or prognosis.

Joan Rivers died on Thursday, September 4, at 1.17 PM.

Joan Rivers was best known for her stand-up comedy, for co-hosting the E! celebrity fashion show Fashion Police, and for starring in the reality series Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? alongside her daughter Melissa Rivers.

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