Chris Rock Comments on Passing of Comic Legend Joan Rivers

In an exclusive interview with Variety, Chris Rock paid tribute to late comedian Joan Rivers who passed away yesterday, September 4th at the age of 81.

"I met Joan Rivers on the worst day of her life. I did the very last 'The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers' on Fox.," he began. "It was my first time on television. Her show just gotten cancelled and her husband had just shot himself in the head. And for whatever reason, she decided to go and do the last show. Boy, did I learn about the show must go on that day."

He continued, "There's a weird thing that happens in art when you meet somebody and they are 30 years older than you. But if you last in the business long enough, one day you're the same age-you're peers. The last few years, I would bump into her and talk comedy. I just loved Joan Rivers. My family, we watched 'The Tonight Show' for Rivers. We liked Johnny Carson, but we loved Joan Rivers. I know I'm going to get s for that. But that's how it was in Bed-Stuy."

Read the interview in full here

Rivers passed away yesterday at the age of 81. She had been placed in a medically induced coma and was moved from the intensive-care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital on Wednesday. Her daughter Melissa shared the sad news of her mother's passing in a statement issued Thursday afternoon which read: "It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers. "She passed peacefully at 1:17 p.m. surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother."

Funeral services for the late comedian will be held this Sunday, September 7th at Manhattan's Temple Emanu-El. No details have been released as to whether the service will be open to the public.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

To post a comment, you must register and login.