Photos: Joan Rivers dies at 81: A look at the comedian

Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa at a fashion show in 1973.   (Kathleen Ballard / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers directs her first movie, “Rabbit Test,” in 1977.  (Kathleen Ballard / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers in 1977.   (Mary Frampton / Los Angeles Times)

Fox Chairman Barry Diller and Joan Rivers in 1986.  (Con Keyes / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers in 1990.  (Steve Fontanini / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers performs in Anaheim in 1991.  (Rod Boren / For The Times)

Joan Rivers works on a segment with Kelly Osborne, right, during a break in her show “Fashion Police”   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers talks to Jason Biggs before his segment on “Fashion Police.”  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers jokes with George Kotsiopoulos during a break in her show “Fashion Police.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers chats with audience members during a break in her show “Fashion Police.”   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers talks with people off the street while promoting her new book “Diary of a Mad Diva” in New York City.  (Rob Kim / Getty Images)

Joan Rivers visits “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”  (Theo Wargo / Getty Images)

Joan and Melissa Rivers arrive at the 55th Emmy Awards in 2003.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Red carpet fashion commentator Joan Rivers, right, checks out her daughter Melissa’s outfit as they arrive for the Emmys in 2002.  (Laura Rauch / Associated Press)

Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa Rivers stand on the red carpet prior to the start of the 2002 Emmy Awards.  (Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times)

Joan and Melissa Rivers at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.  (Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Rivers, left, with her daughter, Melissa Rivers, at the 57th annual Golden Globes Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

In this Jan. 19, 2012, file photo, Joan Rivers attends a screening of the Season 2 premiere of WE TV’s “Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?” in New York.   (Charles Sykes / AP)