Melissa and Joan Rivers attend the NBCUniversal Cable Upfronts on May 15, 2014 in New York City. (Credit: Getty Images)
Melissa Rivers paid tribute to her mother Joan Rivers on Friday, the one year anniversary of the groundbreaking comedian’s death.
“Today marks one year since my mother passed,” Melissa wrote on Joan’s Twitter page, which still has 2.8 million followers. “This was the year of firsts: first holidays, first birthdays, first everythings without mom, without grandma.
“While it’s been difficult, I’ve been amazed by the outpouring of love and overwhelming kindness we’ve received from family, friends, and people whose lives were touched by the woman they knew as Joan — a woman we all miss so very much,” she continued.
Joan was undergoing throat surgery at an outpatient clinic in New York on Aug. 28, 2014, when she stopped breathing during the procedure. She was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically-induced coma before passing away on Sept. 4.
Rivers broke into the spotlight with a 1965 guest appearance on “The Tonight Show.” Though she would go on to frequently fill in for Johnny Carson, Rivers was banned from the late-night show after she left her permanent guest-host position to launch a competing show on Fox.
Joan Rivers Remembered: A Life and Career in Pictures (Photos)
Rivers made her first appearance on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" on February 17, 1965. By 1983, she had become the permanent guest host.
NBC
Michael J. Fox, Whoopi Goldberg and Joan Rivers blow out candles after a taping of the 100th episode of "The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers" (1987)
Twitter
She appeared with Don Rickles on "The Kraft Music Hall" in 1968
NBC
Rivers in a 1983 episode of "Saturday Night Live" with Eddie Murphy
NBC
Rivers was the permanent guest host of "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." She interviewed plenty of celebrities, including Pee Wee Herman, in 1985
NBC
Rivers voiced the animated character Annie Dubinsky on a 2011 episode of "The Simpsons"
Fox
In 1986, Johnny Carson banned Rivers from "The Tonight Show" after she landed her own talk show "The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers."
NBC
She won Season 8 of Donald Trump's business-oriented reality game show, "The Apprentice"
NBC
Rivers performing stand-up at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in 2008 in Hollywood, Fla. in 2008
Getty Images
Kathy Griffin appears on stage at the "Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers" (2009)
Comedy Central
She voiced C3P0-knockoff Dot Matrix in Mel Brooks' 1987 comedy "Spaceballs."
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Tara Reid and Rivers prepare for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Instagram
Rivers with her daughter Melissa Rivers in 1990.
Getty Images
Rivers voiced herself in DreamWorks' smash-hit sequel "Shrek 2" 2004
DreamWorks
She wrote "Bouncing Back: I've Survived Everything...and I Mean Everything...and You Can Too!" in 1997
Getty Images
Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg directed a 2010 documentary about the comedienne's first 75 years on Earth
Instagram
Rivers played herself in "Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story"
NBC
Joan Rivers voiced the role of baby Julie at the end of "Look Who's Talking" in 1989, but the role was given to Roseanne Barr in the 1990 sequel "Look Who's Talking Too"
TriStar Pictures
Joan and Melissa Rivers in Cannes in the early 2000s
Instagram
Rivers shows off the Daytime Emmy she won in 1990 for "The Joan Rivers Show"
Getty Images
Rivers was a founding member of "Fashion Police," which first aired in 2010
E! Entertainment
The comedienne was finally allowed to return to "The Tonight Show" (now with Jimmy Fallon hosting) in 2014, 49 years after her banning by Johnny Carson
NBC
She starred alongside Louis C.K. in a memorable 2011 episode of his hit FX series "Louie"
FX
Rivers in bed with her dog Spike
Instagram
Rivers posted a tribute to Robin Williams shortly after his death, calling him "an amazing talent, a giving man, a brilliant comedian and an extraordinary actor"
Instagram
Rivers with Lucille Ball: "Her last name should have been "Balls" because she sure had them. She fought her way to the top in a man's world and won," said Rivers on her Instagram account.
Instagram
While interviewing Oprah Winfrey in 1985, Rivers suggested her colleague "must lose the weight"
Fox
One of the comedienne's final TV appearances on NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" in August
NBC
Rivers appears with Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens Live"
Bravo
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From ”The Tonight Show“ to ”Fashion Police,“ Rivers worked as a comedian, talk show host and general provocateur for over 50 years
Rivers made her first appearance on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" on February 17, 1965. By 1983, she had become the permanent guest host.