The 30 Funniest Stand-Up Comedians of All-Time

6. Joan Rivers

Image Source: BBC America

There wasn’t exactly an excess of women around when Joan Rivers was coming up in West Village joints. The bold and brash comedian did more than just stake her claim to a spot in the boys’ club. With her acid-tongued raspy voice and self-deprecating jabs, Rivers rose to the elite rank of Johnny Carson’s permanent guest host for The Tonight Show. In the process, she grew a multimedia empire based on her unique brand.