7 Things You Never Knew About Joan Rivers, the Real Inspiration Behind ‘Hacks’
Joan Rivers was never one to hold back. Love her or hate her, Rivers’ razor-sharp tongue and unapologetic honesty carved out a space for herself in comedy long before women were welcome at the table and then made sure to pull up a few chairs for those who followed. Born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933, she rose from performing in smoky Greenwich Village clubs to making history as the first woman to host a late-night network talk show. Now, nearly a decade after her death in 2014, Rivers’ extraordinary legacy will be celebrated in Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute, airing May 13, 2025 on NBC. Taped at the legendary Apollo Theater, the special brings together comedy icons and admirers alike, including Sarah Silverman, Neil Patrick Harris, Tiffany Haddish and her beloved daughter Melissa Rivers, to honor the woman who broke every rule in the book and made us laugh while doing it. In honor of the special, let’s learn some interesting facts about the stunning star who passed away at the age of 81:
1 She was the first woman to host a late-night network talk show
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
In 1986, Rivers broke barriers by launching The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers on the Fox network, becoming the first woman to host a late-night talk show on a major network. However, her decision to leave The Tonight Show infuriated Johnny Carson, who had been her mentor. He never spoke to her again, despite her many attempts to reconcile.
2 Joan Rivers once went by the stage name Pepper January
TriStar Pictures/Everett Collection
Long before she became a household name, Rivers performed stand-up under the delightfully quirky pseudonym Pepper January for a little while during her early career in the 1950s. Eventually, she adopted the name Joan Rivers, from the advice of her agent Tony Rivers. She used his last name as a nod to him.
3 She handcuffed herself to a shopping cart at Costco
IFC Films/Everett Collection
When Costco refused to sell her bestselling book I Hate Everyone… Starting with Me, she staged a one-woman protest, handcuffing herself to a cart and shouting through a megaphone. The police were called and she was not arrested, but she got her wish and it became a huge story. She was 79 years old at the time and said to ABC affiliate KABC-TV, “This is very frightening and it is truly about the First Amendment. This is America and I don’t want to see censorship. This is a store that sells 300 rolls of toilet paper at the same time. And I say any customer that buys 300 rolls of toilet paper deserves a funny book to sit on the toilet and read.”
4 She was a Tony, Emmy and Grammy nominee — and won an Emmy
Everett Collection
Rivers wasn’t just a talk show host and stand-up comic; she was a critically acclaimed actress and writer. She earned a Tony nomination for her role in Sally Marr… and Her Escorts and a Grammy nomination for her comedy album. She won a Daytime Emmy in 1990 for The Joan Rivers Show.
5 She started her career behind the scenes on Candid Camera
George E. Joseph/TV Guide/Courtesy Everett Collection
Before stepping into the spotlight, Rivers worked as a writer for Candid Camera in the early ’60s, where she helped craft the hidden-camera gags that would become TV gold. She also served as the “bait” at times to lure participants into the scene they were setting up. It was one of her first professional gigs in entertainment.
6 She was unapologetically open about plastic surgery
TV Guide/Everett Collection
While many celebrities danced around the topic, Rivers was candid and often hilarious about her extensive cosmetic procedures. She saw plastic surgery as a confidence booster and wasn’t afraid to poke fun at herself, once joking that she’d had so much work done, her face had its own frequent flyer miles. She also advocated for women to get plastic surgery as they got older if they weren’t feeling good about themselves.
7 She never retired
Warner Bros. Television/Everett Collection
Rivers kept working right up until her death on September 4, 2014 at age 81. Whether it was red carpet commentary, reality TV with daughter Melissa, or stand-up comedy, she never stopped hustling. As she put it: “I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking.”
Remind 
Classic Comedy Duos
March 2021
Chuckle at television & films funniest comic duos.
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