Joan Rivers
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- June 8, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Died
- September 4, 2014
- Active Years
- 1948–2024 (77 Years)
- Total Credits
- 203 credits in database
Acting Born Jun 8, 1933 Died Sep 4, 2014 Brooklyn, New York, USA 203 credits
Biography
Joan Rivers, born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American comedian, actress, writer, producer, and television host. Known for her sharp, acerbic, and self-deprecating comedic persona, she rose to prominence in the 1960s. Throughout her career, she appeared in numerous films and television programs, including roles in Spaceballs, Shrek 2, Look Who's Talking, The Smurfs, and Iron Man 3. She was also a frequent guest on The Tonight Show for over two decades before launching her own talk show. Rivers held 178 known acting credits during her lifetime. She died on September 4, 2014, at the age of 81.
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Career overview
Joan Rivers, born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American comedian, actress, writer, producer, and television host. She rose to prominence in the 1960s, establishing a career defined by her sharp wit, irreverent humor, and a self-deprecating comedic style. Throughout her life, she was noted for a persona that was often acerbic, particularly when directed toward celebrities and politicians. Her professional work spanned several decades and included 178 known acting credits.
As an actress and performer, Rivers appeared in various films and television programs. Her filmography includes roles and voice work in productions such as Spaceballs, where she voiced the character Dot Matrix, as well as Shrek 2, Look Who's Talking, The Smurfs, and Iron Man 3. In addition to her acting, she was a fixture on television for over 20 years as a popular guest on The Tonight Show. Her career also involved hosting her own talk show, a decision that impacted her professional relationship with Johnny Carson. Joan Rivers passed away on September 4, 2014, at the age of 81.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Stand-Up: The Laughing TherapyJoan Rivers at the BBC
Pretty Baby: Brooke ShieldsThe Super ModelsCommitment to LifeRock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Dark Side of ComedyThe Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
Live at Mister Kelly'sParkinson at 50Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Beastie Boys StoryDisclosure
Mansfield 66/67Love, Sweat and Tears
The Last Laugh
Late Night with Seth MeyersThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonMostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend?Women Aren't FunnyThe Story of The Swimmer
Iron Man 3Deal With ItThe Jeselnik OffensiveMel Brooks: Make a NoiseWhy We Laugh: Funny Women
Vanilla Ice ArchiveJohnny Carson: King of Late NightJoan Rivers: Don't Start with MeJoan Rivers: Don't Start with Me · Writer
Billy on the StreetThe SmurfsTower HeistTower Heist · ThanksJoan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?
Hot in ClevelandHot in ClevelandEpic Rap Battles of History · CharactersThe TalkWall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenCelebrity Ghost StoriesCelebrity Ghost Stories · In Memory OfLate Night with Jimmy FallonSöndagsparty med Filip & Fredrik
Big Brother: Celebrity HijackSpaceballs: The Animated SeriesCelebrity Family FeudWe Are Most Amused
The Graham Norton ShowThe Alan Titchmarsh ShowSay Yes to the DressShrink RapMr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
The Story of Light EntertainmentMore Dawn French's Girls Who Do: ComedyThe Electric Company's Greatest Hits & BitsMy Name is Jackie BeatAnother Audience with Joan Rivers
8 Out of 10 CatsKathy Griffin: My Life on the D-ListNigellaJohn Candy: Comic SpiritSpaceballs: The Documentary
Project RunwayThe SoupBoston LegalShrek 2The Tony Danza Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres ShowNip/TuckNip/TuckI'm with Her
V Graham NortonLess than PerfectFashion PoliceSylvester: Mighty RealThe Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family'
Good Day LiveE! True Hollywood Story: Joan Rivers
Curb Your EnthusiasmWhispers: An Elephant's TaleIntern
GoosedKnitwits RevisitedKnitwits Revisited · Dialogue
Hollywood SquaresSo Graham Norton
The ViewKnitwitsKnitwits · Writer
ArthurSuddenly SusanE! True Hollywood StoryThe Garth Brooks Video Collection, Vol. 2
Dr. Katz, Professional TherapistDr. Katz, Professional Therapist · Additional WritingNapoleon
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasSerial MomStonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and ProtestTears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story
Intimate Portrait
Lady BossRosa Does JoanJoan Rivers: Abroad in LondonJoan Rivers: Abroad in London · Writer
Full Filmography
203 titles- Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Joan Rivers at the BBC (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- The Super Models (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Commitment to Life (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Dark Side of Comedy (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Live at Mister Kelly's (2021) as Self
- Parkinson at 50 (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Beastie Boys Story (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Disclosure (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Mansfield 66/67 (2017)
- Love, Sweat and Tears (2017) as Self
- The Last Laugh (2016) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? (2014) as Grandma Doyle
- Women Aren't Funny (2014) as Self
- The Story of The Swimmer (2014) as Self
- Iron Man 3 (2013) as Joan Rivers
- Deal With It (2013) as Self
- The Jeselnik Offensive (2013) as Self
- Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013) as Self
- Why We Laugh: Funny Women (2013) as Self
- Why We Laugh: Funny Women (2013) Executive Producer
- Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley (2013) as Self
- Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's (2013) as Self
- Vanilla Ice Archive (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- Johnny Carson: King of Late Night (2012) as Self
- Joan Rivers: Don't Start with Me (2012) as Self
- Joan Rivers: Don't Start with Me (2012) Writer
- Billy on the Street (2011) as Self
- The Smurfs (2011) as Party Guest
- Tower Heist (2011) as Self
- Tower Heist (2011) Thanks
- Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? (2011)
- The Undefeated (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- Bob Ross: The Happy Painter (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- Growing Up Barnard (2011)
- Hot in Cleveland (2010) as Anka
- Hot in Cleveland (2010) as Self
- Epic Rap Battles of History (2010) Characters
- The Talk (2010) as Self
- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) as Joan Rivers
- Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009) as Self
- Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009) In Memory Of
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009) as Self
- Söndagsparty med Filip & Fredrik (2009)
- Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America (2009) as Self - Comedienne
- Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers (2009) as Self
- Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack (2008) as Herself - Hijacker
- Spaceballs: The Animated Series (2008) as Dot Matrix (voice)
- Celebrity Family Feud (2008) as Self
- We Are Most Amused (2008) as Self
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- The Alan Titchmarsh Show (2007) as Self
- Say Yes to the Dress (2007) as Self
- Shrink Rap (2007) as Self
- Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007) as Self
- Making Trouble: Three Generations of Funny Jewish Women (2007) as Self
- The Story of Light Entertainment (2006) as Self
- More Dawn French's Girls Who Do: Comedy (2006) as Self
- The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits (2006) as Self
- My Name is Jackie Beat (2006)
- Another Audience with Joan Rivers (2006) as Self
- Another Audience with Joan Rivers (2006) Writer
- Joan Rivers: Before Melissa Pulls the Plug (2006) as Self
- Joan Rivers: Before Melissa Pulls the Plug (2006) Writer
- 8 Out of 10 Cats (2005) as Self
- Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005) as Self
- Nigella (2005) as Self
- John Candy: Comic Spirit (2005) as Self
- Spaceballs: The Documentary (2005) as Self
- Joan Rivers: (Still A) Live at the London Palladium (2005) as Self
- Joan Rivers: (Still A) Live at the London Palladium (2005) Writer
- Project Runway (2004) as Self - Guest Judge
- The Soup (2004) as Self
- Boston Legal (2004) as Self
- Shrek 2 (2004) as Joan Rivers (voice)
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self - Guest
- Best Week Ever (2004)
- Live at the Apollo (2004)
- Live at the Apollo (2004) as Self
- Live at the Apollo (2004) Writer
- Dave the Barbarian (2004) as Ghost Mom (voice)
- Dave the Barbarian (2004) as Queen Zonthara (voice)
- First Daughter (2004) as Joan Rivers
- Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde (2004) as Self
- Joan Rivers Live at the Apollo (2004) as Self
- Joan Rivers Live at the Apollo (2004) Writer
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Nip/Tuck (2003) as Self
- Nip/Tuck (2003) as Joan Rivers
- I'm with Her (2003) as Joan Rivers
- 100 Greatest Sexy Moments (2003) as Self
- V Graham Norton (2002) as Self
- Less than Perfect (2002) as Louise
- Fashion Police (2002) as Host
- Sylvester: Mighty Real (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family' (2002) as Self
- Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy (2002)
- Cleavage (2002) as Self
- Good Day Live (2001) as Self
- E! True Hollywood Story: Joan Rivers (2001) as Self
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) as Joan Rivers
- Whispers: An Elephant's Tale (2000) as Spike (voice)
- Intern (2000) as Dolly Bellows
- Goosed (1999) as Blanche
- Knitwits Revisited (1999) as Becky (voice)
- Knitwits Revisited (1999) Dialogue
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
- So Graham Norton (1998) as Self - Guest
- The View (1997) as Self
- Knitwits (1997) as Becky (voice)
- Knitwits (1997) Writer
- Arthur (1996) as Bubby (voice)
- Suddenly Susan (1996) as Edie
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- The Garth Brooks Video Collection, Vol. 2 (1996) as Self (We Shall Be Free Music Video)
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) as Joan (voice)
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) Additional Writing
- Napoleon (1995) as Mother Penguin (voice)
- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (1994) as Self - Presenter
- Serial Mom (1994) as Joan Rivers
- Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest (1994) as Self
- Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story (1994) as Joan Rivers
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Lady Boss (1992) as Bibi Grant
- Rosa Does Joan (1992) as Herself
- Joan Rivers: Abroad in London (1992) as Self
- Joan Rivers: Abroad in London (1992) Writer
- Public Enemy #2 (1991) as Joan Rivers
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990) as Self
- Comic Relief '90 (1990) as Self
- Happy Birthday, Bugs! 50 Looney Years (1990) as Self
- How to Murder a Millionaire (1990) as Irma
- The Simpsons (1989) as Annie Dubinsky (voice)
- Look Who's Talking (1989) as Julie (voice) (uncredited)
- The Joan Rivers Show (1989) as Self - Host
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988)
- Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) as Self
- Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (1988) as Joan Rivers
- Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (1988) Writer
- Spaceballs (1987) as Dot Matrix (voice)
- The Dame Edna Experience (1987) as Self
- Les Patterson Saves the World (1987) as President Rivers (uncredited)
- WrestleMania II (1986) as Ring Announcer
- Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special (1986) as Self
- The Late Show (1986) as Self - Host
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) as Perfume Saleswoman
- An Audience with Joan Rivers (1984)
- An Audience with Joan Rivers (1984) Writer
- Garry Shandling: Alone in Vegas (1984) as Self
- The Bob Monkhouse Show (1983) as Self
- Wogan (1982) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Lily: Sold Out (1981) as Joan Rivers
- Siegfried and Roy - Superstars Of Magic (1980)
- Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip (1979) as Self
- An Audience with... (1978) as Self
- Rabbit Test (1978) as Second Nurse
- Rabbit Test (1978) Director
- Rabbit Test (1978) Writer
- Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978) Creator
- Happy Birthday, Las Vegas (1977)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Saturday Night Live (1975) Writer
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Needles and Pins (1973)
- The Girl Most Likely To... (1973) Teleplay
- The Girl Most Likely To... (1973) Story
- The Midnight Special (1972) as Self
- The Electric Company (1971) as Letterman Narrator (voice)
- The Pearl Bailey Show (1971) as Self
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970) as Self
- The Jim Nabors Hour (1969)
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Here's Lucy (1968) as Joan Reynolds
- Frost on Sunday (1968) as Self – Guest
- The Swimmer (1968) as Joan
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
- Hootenanny a Go-Go (1965) as Self
- Another World (1964) as Meredith Dunston
- Miss USA (1963) as Self - Commentator
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self - Guest Host
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self - Guest Hostess
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Hostess
- Kraft Music Hall (1958) as Self
- Today (1952) as Self
- Mister Universe (1951) as Teenage Girl in Audience
- The Emmy Awards (1949) as Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary as Self (archive footage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Joan Rivers best known for?
Joan Rivers is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Meek One (1960), The Super Models (2023), Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021), Beastie Boys Story (2020).
When and where was Joan Rivers born?
Joan Rivers was born on June 8, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. They passed away on September 4, 2014.
How many credits does Joan Rivers have?
Joan Rivers has accumulated over 203 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2024.
What is Joan Rivers's background in cinema and television?
Joan Rivers, born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American comedian, actress, writer, producer, and television host. Known for her sharp, acerbic, and self-deprecating comedic persona, she rose to prominence in the 1960s. Throughout her career, she appeared in numerous films and t...
Joan Rivers by the numbers
203credits
101films
102TV series
1948–2024active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Midnight Special (1972) as Self — aged about 39
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) as Joan Rivers — aged about 67
- The Simpsons (1989) as Annie Dubinsky (voice) — aged about 56
- Boston Legal (2004) as Self — aged about 71
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) as Joan (voice) — aged about 62
- Disclosure (2020) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 87
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