Larry King: Joan Rivers "took no prisoners"

Comedian Joan Rivers is dead at the age of 81. The former talk show host passed away Thursday afternoon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Joan Rivers dies at age 81, funeral planned for Sunday in New York

Rivers went into cardiac arrest one week ago today during a routine throat procedure. Her daughter Melissa issued a statement a short while ago, saying:

"My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Laughing was what Joan Rivers was best at. She never took herself or others too seriously. Known for her gossip and celebrity interviews on the red carpet, Rivers was a fixture at Hollywood's biggest awards shows.

She was also the host of E-Online's "Fashion Police" where she loved to critique the outfits of Hollywood's elite.

Rivers was one of the first female stand-up comedians and caught her first big break in 1965 on the "Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson. She was an actor, an author, a comedian, and a businesswoman.

Larry King knew Rivers for more than 40 years, and interviewed her several times. In interview with CNN's Erin Burnett, he said it was hard to object to Rivers' humor "because she took no prisoners."