Comedy Legend Joan Rivers Dies at 81

A trailblazer and larger-than-life influence for a host of comics that came after her, Joan Rivers has passed away at the age of 81.

She began doing stand-up comedy in the 60s when that entertainment field was all but a "no-woman's land."

She became an instant star after multiple appearances on the The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

In fact, she was such a frequent and popular guest on Carson's show that she became his permanent guest host when he wasn't available.

And when she got her own talk show in 1986, Carson was so angered by the move that he not only removed her as his fill-in but he never spoke to her again.

The show ran on FOX opposite The Tonight Show but was cancelled within a year, a setback that was followed by the tragedy of her husband Edgar's suicide.

But Joan regrouped. She began hosting another talk show, this time in the daytime, and won an Emmy. She never stopped touring or making guest appearances and she spent time as the center square on Hollywood Squares.

Joan Rivers was a brash comic but never apologized for her unique style. No celebrity was safe. And few of those celebrities ever took offense. As a matter of fact, Joan poked just as much fun at herself--her very many plastic surgeries became a trademark--as she did anyone else.

She was also a brilliant businesswoman.

She had her own line of jewelry which she frequently hawked on QVC and she was an accomplished author.

Her razor-sharp business sense was on full display during the 2009 season of Celebrity Apprentice which she won.

More recently, she became just as well-known for critiquing (or criticizing) celebrities' apparel at any given awards show. In fact she was doing that just two weeks ago.

But since that night--it was the Emmy Awards--Joan Rivers underwent routine throat surgery at a clinic in New York City during which she went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing.

She was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan where she was eventually put into a medically-induced coma and on life support.

Last night, she was taken out of ICU and, earlier today, Joan Rivers passed away at the age of 81.