Comedian TV Host CEO and Founder, Joan Rivers Worldwide

The daughter of immigrant Russian parents, Joan created her own brand of irreverent, unconventional comedy to forge her remarkable rise to stardom in the entertainment world. Enduring humiliation and privation for nearly a decade playing tawdry clubs, Borscht Belt hotel, and Greenwich Village cabarets (“I was insanely persistent,” she says), Joan's career skyrocketed in 1965 when she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Within three years she was hosting That Show With Joan Rivers, one of the first syndicated daytime shows, and went on to become the first sole guest host of The Tonight Show. Her own The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers helped launch the Fox Network in 1986 and, in 1989, she returned to television with The Joan Rivers Show, winning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host the following year — and her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Using her unique gifts of humor, compassion and tenacity has enabled Joan to triumph over personal tragedy and attain extraordinary professional success. In a brilliant teaming with QVC in 1990, she launched the Joan Rivers Classics Collection of fine, fashion jewelry, winning an ACE Award from the Accessories Council in 1997 and achieving unprecedented — and continuing — success with a record-breaking $200 million plus in sales.

One of the most naturally style-savvy women on the planet, consistently appearing on Best Dressed lists around the world, Joan, along with her daughter, Melissa, hosted E!'s red-carpet events from 1996 - 2004 when they signed a long-term contract with the TV Guide Channel, where they will continue their “must-see” red-carpet coverage as well as developing original programming and participating in the Channel's original specials and series.

A pre-eminent connoisseur of fine art, antiques and vintage jewelry, Joan keeps her finger on the pulse of all the latest trends and is widely considered America's most visible, accessible and authoritative fashion spokesperson. Her firm belief that when women look their best they can be their best inspired her most recent partnering with QVC to launch Joan Rivers Beauty, a continually expanding line that encompasses her uniquely formulated Joan Rivers Results Skin Care line, color cosmetics and her luxury fragrances, Now & Forever and Pink Flowers Eau de Parfum.

While continuing to headline at prestigious concert venues worldwide, Joan is always working on new projects. In April 2002, she brought her critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival one-woman show, “Broke and Alone,” to London's Theatre Royal Haymarket, receiving critical raves and the first standing ovation at the theatre in fourteen years. Joan then took the show to the State Theatres in Sydney and Melbourne where it received similar critical and audience response. Subsequent performances, including a week at the Canon Theatre in Los Angeles, have all garnered “hottest ticket in town” status.

Good news travels fast and, before she knew it, Joan was back headlining at The Stardust in Las Vegas… and, in October of '04, returned to the U.K. for her first national concert tour. The Glasgow International Comedy Festival followed in March of 2005. But the U.K. was still clamoring for more, so in the fall of 2005, Joan returned to England for her second major tour in two years.

From her signature question, “Can we talk?” (officially a Federal trademark), to her red-carpet mantra, “Who are you wearing?” the woman who asks the questions gets the answers America… and the world… wants to hear.

Joan Rivers embodies class, confidence and chutzpah in all the right proportions, and her accomplishments are amazing. Of course, her most joyous accomplishment, right now, is being grandmother to Melissa's son, Cooper (Edgar Cooper Endicott), who was born on December 1, 2000 — and she's enjoying that immensely.

TELEVISION CREDITS:

1966-67 Candid Camera (writer).

1969-71 That Show (writer/star; 260 half-hour shows; NBC).

1973 The Girl Most Likely To (writer; ABC).

1983-86 The Tonight Show (first permanent guest host).

1984 London Weekend Television’s… An Evening With…

1985 Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (Showtime).

1986 Joan Rivers: Can We Talk? (host; 6 one-hour specials; BBC).

1986-87 The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers (launches Fox Network).

1987-89 Hollywood Squares (center square).

1989-94 The Joan Rivers Show (nationally syndicated).

1990-91 Gossip, Gossip, Gossip (USA Networks).

1990 How to Murder a Millionaire (MOW; CBS).

1992 Lady Boss (MOW).

1994 Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story (MOW; NBC).

1994 Can We Shop? (nationally syndicated).

1996-2004 E! Host of red-carpet coverage of Awards telecast and Fashion Police specials.

1997 A&E Biography… Joan Rivers

1998-99 Suddenly Susan and Another World (guest appearances).

1999 Intimate Portrait: Joan Rivers (Lifetime)

2001 E! True Hollywood Story

2002 Second City Presents… Joan Rivers (Bravo).

2003 I’m With Her (guest appearances; ABC).

2004 Dave the Barbarian (voice-over; The Disney Channel).

2004 TV GUIDE Channel … Host of red-carpet marquee events; development/participation in Channel’s series’ and specials.

2004 Joan Rivers – The Dismissed Juror (Court TV: Hollywood Heat).

2004 Nip/Tuck (guest appearance; FX Channel).

2004 The Joan Rivers Position(½ hour comedy/advice series; U.K. Channel 5).

BOOKS:

1974 Having a Baby Can Be a Scream

1984 The Life and Hard Times of Heidi Abromowitz

1986 Enter Talking (#2 on The New York Times bestseller list in 2 weeks).

1991 Still Talking

1995 Jewelry By Joan Rivers

1997 Bouncing Back (Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, among others).

1998 From Mother to Daughter: Thoughts And Advice On Life, Love And Marriage

1999 Don’t Count the Candles: Just Keep The Fire Lit

FEATURE FILMS:

1969 The Swimmer (with Burt Lancaster).

1978 Rabbit Test (writer/ director).

1984 The Muppets Take Manhattan (Cameo).

1987 Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs (voice of Dot Matrix).

1989 Look Who’s Talking (co-wrote/ performed voice of the baby).

1994 Serial Mom (with Kathleen Turner).

1998 Goosed (with Jennifer Tilly).

2000 L’Intern

2004 Shrek 2

THEATRE:

1971 Fun City (co-writer/ star).

1988 Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound

1994 Sally Marr and Her Escorts (co-writer/ star; Tony Award nominee for Best Actress).

RADIO:

1997-2002 The Joan Rivers Show (WOR/ national syndication).

MISCELLANEOUS:

1973-76 Chicago Tribune (wrote thrice-weekly column).

1983 What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most? (Grammy Award nominated comedy album).

1996 Shopping for Fitness (ABC Home Video).

1999-2000 McCALL’s Magazine (wrote mother/daughter advice column with daughter, Melissa).

2002-2003 STAR Magazine — Fashion Columnist (with daughter, Melissa).

AWARDS:

1980 CLIO AWARD for Best Performer in a Television Commercial — Firestone Tire Co.

1984 Harvard University Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year.

1986 Harvard University Instant Pudding Award.

1987 / 1991 JIMMY AWARD (named after comedian, Jimmy Durante).

1989 Honored with a “Star” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1990 Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk/ Service Show Host for The Joan Rivers Show.

1997 ACE Award (Accessories Council’s Award of Excellence for the Joan Rivers Classics Collection of fine, fashion jewelry on QVC).

2000 Honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from Marymount College.

2004 Honorary Doctorate degree from Pratt Institute (of Arts and Design).

2004 National Council of Jewish Women (N.Y. Section) – Rebekah Kohut Award for Service to the Community.

BUSINESS VENTURES:
1990 Teamed with QVC to launch her award-winning Joan Rivers Classics Collection of fine, fashion jewelry.

1996 Founded Joan Rivers Worldwide Enterprises, her own corporation.

2000 Launched Joan Rivers Beauty, which encompasses Joan Rivers Results Skin Care line, color cosmetics and her signature fragrance, Now & Forever.

2004 Launched a second fragrance, Pink Flowers Eau de Parfum.