When Joan Rivers passed away last week, there was an immediate outpouring of grief and affection from celebs ranging from Kylie Jenner to Samuel L. Jackson.
Rivers had a lot of famous friends and openly discussed her desire for a “Hollywood funeral” in her memoirs and stage acts.
When the iconic comedienne was laid to rest on Sunda, the star-studded event in her honor – complete with song-and-dance numbers – would certainly not have disappointed.
Howard Stern delivered a eulogy that was reportedly filled with the sort of off-color jokes that made Joan famous. The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus opened the show. Hugh Jackman sang “Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage,” followed by one last standing ovation for Joan Rivers.
There were sentimental moments too, of course, as Melissa Rivers read a touching letter to her legendary mother and Broadway star Audra McDonald sang the tearjerker “Smile.”
Rivers stopped breathing during a surgical procedure on August 28. She lapsed into a coma from which she never awoke. No official cause of death has been determined.
Though she was 81 and had experienced health problems in the past, Rivers’ death came as a shock to fans, as she was as active and controversial as ever in her final days.
Joan’s nearly 60-year career in comedy saw many ups and downs but she never abandoned her signature brand of outspoken, tell-it-like-it-is style of humor. Enjoy some of Rivers’ most memorable moments in the gallery below: