Phyllis Diller Dead: Comedienne Dies At 95
Legendary comedienne Phyllis Diller has died at 95 years old.
Sources tell TMZ that Diller passed away in her Los Angeles home, surrounded by her family. A rep for the comic says her passing did not have anything to do with a recent injury to her hip and wrist resulting from a fall.
Diller was originally born as Phyllis Driver on July 17, 1917, and she began her career in comedy in 1952. She rose to prominence in the 1960s as she performed in television specials alongside Bob Hope. She was also a regular on "Laugh-In" and hosted "The Phyllis Diller Show" and a variety program called "The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show."
Diller made a name for herself as she used her comedy to deconstruct the vision of the typical American housewife. She relished in self-deprecating humor and combined her loud, raw comic voice with her eccentric make-up and oddball hairstyles to create an image all her own.
The comedienne was also well-known for her incredibly distinctive cackle, which she spoke about in her final published work, a memoir called "Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse," released in 2004.
"My own laugh is the real thing and I've had it all my life," Diller wrote. "My father used to call me the laughing hyena. Like a yawn or a mood, it's infectious, and that's a great plus for a comic."
Diller is survived by her three children. She was twice divorced, and she remained devoted to her partner, attorney Rob Hastings, until his death in 1996.