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Phyllis Diller died today at her Brentwood home surrounded by family after her health had been in decline ever since she suffered a bad fall, her rep confirmed to Deadline. She was 95. One of the best known female comedians who starred on both the big and small screens, including two of her own TV shows, Diller owed her rise to fame to Bob Hope and her career longevity to her edgy humor and glamorous appearance: her wild blonde hair, trendy but eccentric sheaths, and long cigarette holder were unforgettable props to her persona as the world’s worst housewife. She made self-deprecating jokes about her age and plastic surgery, her terrible cooking, and her husband “Fang”. But she also could be just as caustic insulting others as Don Rickles – a rarity for female comics. Who else would have posed for Playboy and then laughed when the pictures were never published. One of her most recent regular TV appearances had been on the CBS daytime drama The Bold And The Beautiful as the sassy hairdresser Gladys. MORE
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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So long Phyllis.
Phyllis never got her due until the last 20 years of her life
I met Ms. Diller several times over the years- My father Peter Daniels had worked closely with her back in the day – she was of course funny, sassy an original- She paved the way for many women performers and when i talked with her… it seemed to me she has had such a full life.
thoughts are with her family and friends.
I will always remember her crazy cycle chase in “Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!”
I had the rare opportunity to meet this fabulously funny and genuinely warm personality at a dinner roast for Charles Nelson Reilly, and Ms. Diller was the perfect representation of old Hollywood’s star quality. A talented comedienne, she always had time for her fans and never sighed over signing yet another autograph.
Thank you for the comedy, Ms. Diller, and R.I.P.
LOVED that chase scene!
How well I remember when I moved to NYC at age 22 and picked up Ms. Diller’s riotous paperback “Phyllis Diller’s Housekeeping Hints”. But in setting up my own apartment, I discovered many of these tips were actually quite helpful: “Always serve dinner late; the starving will eat anything”, “Make friends with your roaches”, etc. Ms. Diller paved the way for other unorthodox funny ladies (Joan Rivers, for one). R.I.P. dear lady. You will be missed.
She and Liberace both lived by “The Magic of Believing” by Claude Bristol. Imagine wanting to start in comedy at age 37! She believed her way to success. R.I.P. She was always a high point on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Phylllis Diller was a fantastic, brilliant talent. To me, Ms. Diller was the greatest female comedian of all-time, and there is no one who even came close to filling the void she left upon her 2002 retirement. My prayers go out to her family, friends, and fans.
I grew up loving this woman. Lots of Laughs! She is performing on stage 2nite 4 God and the Angels.
My deepest condolensces to the family over your loss. I went to school with two of her children back in St. Louis, MO during the 60′s. Perry and Stephanie Diller both attended the same elementary school that I did…in fact Perry and I were both members of the “schoolboy patrol”–he being the captain and I was his lieutenant. Those were the best of times. Wishing you all the best as you grieve over your loss. Your mother was a very special person, loved and adored by millions. She will be greatly missed.
She will be missed.
End of an era. I had the honor of working with Ms.Diller along with Buddy Hackett a few years back on a Nickelodeon t.v. series in which they were both appearing in a sketch. The dressing rooms were up several flights of stairs and Mr. Hackett was not capable of climbing the stairs so he just hung out on the set. Ms. Diller who was actually older than Mr. Hackett had no trouble climbing the 3 flights to her dressing room. When I introduced myself to Buddy he asked where Phyllis was, I replied upstairs in her dressing room, he promptly replied “Probably ironing her tits!” When I went up and introduced myself to Phyllis her first question was where is Buddy Hackett? I said downstairs, he’s not able to climb the stairs, to which she shot back, “GOOD, keep him down there!” I guess they were not huge fans of each other…ha! But of course they were both total pros once we rehearsed and the cameras rolled. It was a day I’ll never forget and cherish the picture I took with Ms. Diller. R.I.P. and thank you for all the laughs. My condolences to her family.
The word “legend” gets thrown around a lot (especially to people who don’t remotely deserve it). Ms. Diller was most definitely a legend. I encourage anyone who enjoyed her work to go to emmytvlegends.org and look up her online interview. I’ve watched many of these interviews, and hers was one of the most fascinating. She had a remarkable life, and I’m just grateful so much of her work will be available for future generations to see.
A true pioneer whose impact on comedy (and female comedians, especially) cannot be underestimated.
Without question she paved the way for women in stand-up. Plus, she was the first celebrity to go public about her plastic surgery. Unlike the disasters you see today, she actually looked BETTER after her first procedure… and that was in the 60s!
Ah HA HA Ha haaaaaa! I hope you’re laughing wherever you are!
Every raunchy female comic owes her a big “Thank you!”
She was wonderful, generous and kind. She was interested in everyone coming up after her. She was always approachable. She once took a gang of young female comics out on the town for the night. She rented a limo and went to a male strip club.
Good Bye Phyllis, I’ll never forget your laugh
RIP Phyllis Diller and thanks for paving the way for so many other women.
She was a childhood idol for virtually all of today’s female comediennes.
Phyllis paved the way for Joan, Roseanne, Sarah, and all the rest.
A Leading Light for Female Comedienne’s and a Real Lady !! Many Happy Memories of Her !!
she was unique nad totally original!
Phyllis was one of the smartest, kindest and loveliest women I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Her audition for “A Bug’s Life” had us all laughing hysterically. Hiring Phyllis Diller was one of the high points of my casting career! A great lady – she will be missed!!
Moms Mabley and Phyllis Diller definitely paved the way for female comics from all races and ethnicities. Rest well Phyllis, have fun with Moms and do a great show for all in the heavens above.
Such a wonderful human being who brought a lot of laughter at her own expense and accord, but now her and Bob Hope can do some entertaining for the folks up in heaven. Thank goodness for DVDs of her specials, the roasts, films with Hope and such to keep these memories fresh in our minds. RIP Phyllis. She was old-school!
you will be missed ms. diller. i always laughed at your caustic homour. watched you many times on bob hope’s tv. show. wish there were as many great comediane today as back then. r.i.p. funny lady.