Revisiting Her Final Moments, 11 Years Later

Joan Rivers was a force to be reckoned with.

The comedian, who died nearly 11 years ago in 2014, is the subject of a May 13 NBC special, Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All Star Tribute. In the lead-up, fellow comedians — including Aubrey Plaza, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish and more — posed with Rivers’ ashes.

Despite it being a controversial choice, daughter Melissa Rivers thinks her mom would have loved the tribute.

“Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me. Well, it’s about time,” she thinks her mother would have said about the special.

Joan died over a decade ago when she stopped breathing during a routine medical procedure in a New York City clinic on Aug. 28, 2014, per CBS. She was then rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma. A week later, Melissa announced that Joan had “passed peacefully” on Sept. 4, 2014.

So, how did Joan Rivers die? Here’s everything to know about the TV legend’s death.

How did Joan Rivers die?

On Aug. 28, 2014, Joan underwent a minor, elective vocal cord procedure at the Yorkville Endoscopy Center in N.Y.C., per CBS. During the surgery, Joan’s vocal cords seized — a condition called laryngospasm — which cut off her air supply.

When Joan’s vitals plummeted, her doctor, Gwen Korovin, who Melissa claims was not credentialed to perform surgery at the Yorkville Endoscopy Center, allegedly left to “avoid getting caught,” according to a lawsuit later filed against her and the clinic by Melissa. Korovin’s lawyer denied that she left the room, according to The New York Times.

In November 2014, the New York State Department of Health found that mistakes made by Dr. Korovin and the clinic’s staff caused Joan irreversible brain damage, according to a report obtained by PEOPLE.

“The physicians in charge of the care of the patient failed to identify deteriorating vital signs and provide timely intervention during the procedure,” the report read.

Joan was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she later died, per CBS. According to the medical examiner, her official cause of death was “anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest” — a.k.a. brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

The following year, Melissa filed a lawsuit against the Yorkville Endoscopy Center, claiming that the doctors performed a biopsy that her mom had not consented to — and that they failed to realize that she was losing oxygen until it was too late, according to the complaint obtained by PEOPLE. The complaint also alleged that two of the doctors took a selfie with her while she was unconscious on the operating table. Korovin “categorically” denied performing a biopsy and taking a selfie photo of Rivers while she was under anesthesia at the medical clinic, per CNN.

“The level of medical mismanagement, incompetency, disrespect, and outrageous behavior is shocking and frankly, almost incomprehensible,” Melissa said in a statement. “Not only did my mother deserve better, every patient deserves better. It is my goal to make sure that this kind of horrific medical treatment never happens to anyone again.”

There was no immediate response from the clinic, per NBC. Melissa’s lawsuit was settled in 2016, although the details — including the amount of money involved — were not revealed publicly.

“I am able to put the legal aspects of my mother’s death behind me and ensure that those culpable for her death have been responsible for their actions quickly and without equivocation,” she said in a statement at the time.

When did Joan Rivers die?

Joan died at 1:17 p.m. on Sept. 4, 2014 — a week after undergoing a minor procedure on her vocal cords. She was surrounded by close friends and family, including her daughter, Melissa.

“My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh,” Melissa said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.”

According to ABC 7, Joan performed the night before her procedure at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in N.Y.C. An audience member seated close to the stage told the outlet she was performing new material and looked healthy enough to “run a track race.”

Where did Joan Rivers die?

Joan died at Mount Sinai Hospital in N.Y.C., not too far from where she was born in Brooklyn. Though she moved to Los Angeles with her husband, Edgar Rosenburg, in the late 1960s, she moved back to the northeast city after he died by suicide in 1987.

“My parents always felt like fish out of water in L.A., and it really became acute for my mother after my dad died,” Melissa told PEOPLE in 2024. “It just wasn’t who they were. It wasn’t who she was. And apparently, my parents had this pact that when one of them died, the other one would go back to New York. I have no idea why they had this pact, but I think it’s because neither of them liked living in L.A.”

In 2024, the Manhattan penthouse the comedian called home for 28 years was removed from the market after almost three years of trying to find a buyer.

How old was Joan Rivers when she died?

Born on June 8, 1933, the comedian — whose real name was Joan Molinsky — was 81 years old when she died. She began her onstage career performing at nightclubs and coffeehouses around N.Y.C.

Her big break came in 1965 when she won over host Johnny Carson with her stand-up routine on The Tonight Show.

From there, she published multiple books, directed movies, hosted an Emmy-winning daytime talk show, performed on Broadway, launched a jewelry line for QVC and roasted celebrities for their red-carpet looks on E!’s Fashion Police.

What were Joan Rivers’ last words?

In May 2016, Melissa told the Today show that after settling the suit against Yorkville Endoscopy Center, she got to learn what Joan’s last words were.

She chose not to make them public, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, she did reveal the “very normal conversation” she had with her mother right before the surgery.

“All she said was, ‘Ugh, I hate having to do this. Getting old sucks,’ ” Melissa said.

When was Joan Rivers’ funeral?

A star-studded funeral was held for Joan on Sept. 7, 2014, at Temple Emanu-El in N.Y.C. In addition to the crowds of fans standing outside, there was a long list of celebrity attendees, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Hoda Kotb, Andy Cohen, Matthew Broderick, Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg and Hugh Jackman.

The service included a performance by the N.Y.C. Gay Men’s Chorus and a speech by Howard Stern.

“She fought the stereotype that women couldn’t be funny,” he said. “She was responsible for putting the red carpet into prime time.”

What was Joan Rivers’ legacy?

Today, Joan is remembered as a legendary comedian who paved the way for women in show business. She was also an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community — she was one of the first celebrities to raise money for AIDS research in the 1980s, a move for which her family allegedly received so many threats that Joan sent Melissa to school with bodyguards.

While fans will remember her quick wit, sharp tongue and fearless attitude, Melissa told PEOPLE in 2018 that her mother’s “greatest legacy” is her grandson, Cooper.

“The best legacy that I can give my mother — that everyone can give their parent — is to raise a good and decent child,” she said. “Cooper and I often talk about what is our family legacy. And I feel like our legacy is to live a life that you can be proud of on many levels.”

She continued, “Giving your best professionally and personally. Giving back to others. Cooper and I always try to remember how fortunate we are, just by rite of birth. We can never lose sight of that. We’re not entitled to anything. We work for what we have. That’s how my mother lived.”