Comedian Phyllis Diller has died at the age of 95.
Her longtime manager, Milton Suchin, says Diller died Monday morning in her sleep.
The groundbreaking comedian started her career in 1952 and rose to fame with her TV specials along side Bob Hope in the 1960′s
Diller was a staple of nightclubs and television from the 1950s until her retirement in 2002.
She became known for her self-deprecating jokes and her distinctive laugh.
Diller often portrayed herself as a bizarre housewife who could not cook and would make jokes about her husband named “Fang.”
A true original has died. Phyllis DillerThere was NOOne like her, no 1looked like her sounded like her. A FUNNY FUNNY. Classy& Smart RIP
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 20, 2012
Later on in her career she appeared in guest spots on many television shows including The Drew Carey show where she played the eccentric grandmother of Mimi Bobek and in 2006 she lent her voice to the character of Peter Griffin’s mother on Family Guy.
If she had started today, Phyllis could have stood there in Dior and Harry Winston and become the major star that she was. I adored her!
— Joan Rivers (@Joan_Rivers) August 20, 2012
We lost a comedy legend today. Phyllis Diller was the queen of theone-liners. She was a pioneer.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 20, 2012
Diller was nearly 40 when she began performing, with five children and a successful career as an advertising copywriter. At the time, women were a rarity in the world of stand-up comedy.
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