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Veteran comedienne Phyllis Diller dead at 95

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    Entertainment legend a 'true pioneer'

  • Duration 8:04
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Send news out of Hollywood this afternoon the veteran comedian Phyllis Diller is dead today at the age of 95.

She died in Los Angeles -- long time manager said she died early this morning.

In her sleep Phyllis Diller Jonathan Hunt is -- this man.

I have such great -- watching her my grandmother and little bitty kid Nicholas.

He extraordinary ordinary -- -- she's had a Joan Rivers actually said recently that Phyllis Diller was the woman who quote.

Broke the -- -- every woman comedian hard to argue with that.

I she made her debut on radio KR OW that in Oakland back in 1950 to 955.

She did her first stand up at the famed -- onion.

Comedy club in San Francisco and then of course.

I've -- real -- with those 23.

TV specials.

And three movies she did along with -- -- in more recent years though she has had some medical -- -- attack.

Back in 1999.

Hit a bad fall into -- for.

Five and had some neurological tests done then and -- here that she recently.

I have another full and was recovering from that and was actually living in hospice -- at a home in Brentwood that apparently according to the reports.

Is where she died chip surrounded by her family but -- Joan Rivers said the woman who broke the way for every woman comedians and now.

95 a mini biography on her I have in front of me height five foot one.

A little Phyllis -- it says the indefatigable.

-- -- an -- finally put out -- autobiography in 2005.

And did titled it.

Like a lamp shade.

In a -- house.

Well pretty much says it all and -- calling the misfit life and career of the fabulous one of a kind Phyllis Diller.

And then it goes on just to read -- excuse -- it may inspire all those.

Boarded discouraged indoor direction let's housewives up there.

To know that the one time 37 year old chief bottle washer and diaper dispose -- of six.

Started out writing comedy routines for -- fellow female laundry mates at a sort of reprieve from what she concluded her everyday household doldrums.

Little did she know that she would wind up and entertainment legend.

Who would share the biggest comedy stages with the likes of Bob Hope.

George burns and Jack -- Phyllis Diller and incredible performer and comedian.

Died today at 95 and -- heard -- report.

That she had fallen more than once and had been in hospice cents.

Arthur Caplan is with a -- -- professor and Ph.D.

heads the division of medical ethics at in New York university's -- medical center.

So many times Arthur you here.

Of an elderly person who's been doing so well.

All of a sudden there's a fall and the bad hip and the news is not good again.

It really triggers a cascade of events -- what you see is you -- the fall the person takes to bed.

They're hard they do it's difficult to do exercise they have a hard time you sometimes because they've got to remain prone in the bid -- slowed he'll win -- older.

I can't tell you remember times when we -- -- that leads ultimately to a death -- a personal.

Five which really frequent so many of us have have older parents and many of -- grandparents in the light -- -- you don't you can't stop life you know you're gonna fall from time to time it's just went over people fall it's you know period.

It's it's serious.

I even 92 year old mom she lives in the house I grew up -- outside of Boston.

She could fall and I -- to face this choice myself and when I basically descended is.

She's confident she knows what she's doing she might follow it could be the end she loves a -- in this house are gonna take a -- -- -- the risk is there.

Right.

She was born Phyllis -- driver on July the seventeenth 1970.

While.

A student it Lima Ohio is central high -- -- went -- to study for three years.

At the -- music conservatory in Chicago before transferring.

On to another college in Ohio.

And before she knew it Phyllis Diller was -- it sure would Anderson Diller at the age of 22.

And then she went on to -- comedy career that really -- nobody ever could've predicted Fred Westbrook is on the phone with us Phyllis -- agents.

And certainly said passing -- so many of us respected admired in her and admired her and laughed out louder for so many hours.

-- I'm I'm curious as to what the last weeks and months were like.

-- -- I think you would think should become pioneer as in the dead.

It was the first lady of standup comedy nobody put -- -- -- and everybody.

After her was because of Phyllis Diller.

She conquered all the media TV -- -- Bob Hope to come Broadway -- bestselling books record albums radio it was a true pioneer.

How did she make that jump the -- that other women had not been able to make.

Well I think if she got her start on the old Groucho Marx didn't show you bet your life -- contested.

Each June -- this driver from -- -- -- revised its.

And Groucho Marx said you're on television you know you're funny.

That's all she needed to hear -- was from the legendary Groucho Marx if they -- -- -- of funny.

From -- -- she went to the purple onion.

In des princes go with two guys -- in The Smothers Brothers and Morton -- and a few other people.

Actually just worked the way up and check our paper -- first big break.

And also Johnny Carson Merv Griffin Mike Douglas they've brought.

And she just.

-- nonstop till -- 95.

Years of -- It's unbelievable she she headlined virtually every supper club.

In this nation and recently celebrated 35 years in the industry.

Of a career that didn't begin until she was 37 years old and had already reared five children that right credible.

Right to delay people who work and she was the First Lady deployed -- You the first thing we'll stay under the -- are -- in Vegas in a male dominated world went back then you had.

Jack Carter he had Cherokee green had.

Danny Thomas and there was -- through.

Elvis Presley was a play and Johnny Carson loved her as a matter of fact -- -- -- statement tonight chill -- tiny Tim got married.

Yeah she she -- the pioneer in so many different areas that she made absolutely no secret of the fact that she had plastic surgery she was got to proud of it.

In fact I think recently via American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Gave for -- for big props for.

For sort of -- Taking plastic surgery at a at a the out of the something to be ashamed up.

Absolutely what everybody kept it on the high recession not until she got plastic surgery in 1972.

After -- -- felt from the -- -- -- show.

People are profiles that I need a facelift actually did that and she was the first.

First celebrity really can replace plastic surgery again and a true party in the year.

And many may not realize she was a piano soloist.

-- a hundred symphony orchestras orchestras across this country.

Including performances in Dallas and Denver Annapolis Houston Baltimore -- Pittsburgh Detroit Cincinnati on and on a piano -- Right she was so wonderful piano player -- Beautiful piano -- go home she had a gorgeous home in Brentwood California.

I'm in a spectacular.

Gorges beautiful home.

Filled with magical memories of her wonderful career.

Who asserts mighty good mighty good to be to be here on -- on a difficult day Phyllis Diller after an absolutely incredible life.

A mother of five who at 37 years old -- read those children and and and met a guy told -- she's kind of funny.

You heard the story just moments ago and she was celebrated 35 years in show business then fell recently and just frankly just didn't get better.

Phyllis Diller a legend of comedy and one who has broken the -- For women around the world Phyllis Diller did today at 95.

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