Celebrities Pay Tribute To Joan Rivers

Celebrities from across the showbiz world have paid tribute to iconic comedian Joan Rivers who died yesterday aged 81.

The star suffered a cardiac arrest on 28th August and after a week in intensive care passed away yesterday in Mount Sinai Hospital in New York surrounded by her family.

With almost 50 years in the limelight, Joan Rivers was renowned for her acerbic wit and put-downs and was cited as being hugely influential to comedy.

Not afraid to cross the line, sometimes her comments sparked controversy, such as her suggestion that Palestinians were to blame for the Israeli-Gaza crisis just last month.

! Joan Rivers pictured in 1965

Joan's daughter Melissa Rivers released a statement yesterday afternoon saying: "My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Paying homage to her close friend, fellow comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg said: "My friend Joan Rivers has passed away once again to quote Billy Crystal... There are no words. Bon Voyage Joan."

Describing Rivers as a pioneer, Ellen DeGeneres wrote: "She paved the way for a lot of comedians. I'm very sad she's gone."

George Takei told his 7million Facebook followers: “Joan made us laugh, and understandably rubbed many the wrong way, as big voices in our midst so often do.

“But she moved to the beat of her own drum, was a pioneer in her field, and she will be missed.”

Here is a selection of tributes from celebrities on Twitter: