Daughter: Joan Rivers still on life support

Joan Rivers, the famed comedian and red-carpet personality, had a health scare on Thursday. Here's a look back at her career.

Rivers' big break came in an appearance on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" in 1965. It was the beginning of a relationship that would include dozens of appearances as guest and guest host.

Rivers followed her Carson breakthrough with appearances on talk and variety shows. Ed Sullivan had her as a guest in 1966.

Rivers hit a peak in the 1980s, headlining in Las Vegas and becoming a regular guest host on the "Tonight Show."

Rivers is famed for her quick wit, which she often uses against herself.

Rivers later hosted talk shows of her own. Here, she chats with Dolly Parton.

She starred on the daytime "Joan Rivers Show," for which she won a Daytime Emmy, for five seasons, from 1989-1994. Here, she poses with her dog, Spike.

Rivers wanted to be an actress when she was young, and she fulfilled that goal after her success as a comedian -- though sometimes playing herself, as she did on "Nip/Tuck," with Julian McMahon, left, and Dylan Walsh.

Rivers and her daughter Melissa are regulars on awards show red carpets, critiquing celebrity fashion with lines both generous and cutting.

Rivers talks with Tim McGraw and wife Faith Hill at the Grammys in 2005.

Rivers with Tina O'Brien at the British Academy Television Awards in 2007.

Rivers is a star among comedians, admired for her longevity and wit. She attended the Mark Twain Prize ceremony in 2008. The honor that year went to the late George Carlin.

Kathy Griffin is one of many comedians who can cite Rivers as an influence. Like Rivers, Griffin is known for mocking celebrities at various events. She and Rivers share a stage during a Rivers roast in 2009.

Rivers proved herself to be quite the savvy businessperson by winning a season of Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice." Trump and his wife, Melania, join Rivers at the season finale in 2009.

Katie Finneran and Joan Rivers attend the Broadway opening after-party of "Promises, Promises" at the Plaza Hotel in New York in 2010.

Rivers, a fashion lover, attends the LensCrafters' reveal of Sunglass Fashion Crimes in 2011.

In February 2013, she attended the Dennis Basso Fall 2013 fashion show. Alongside her, from left, are Martha Stewart, Star Jones and Kelly Bensimon.

After a falling-out with Johnny Carson, Rivers didn't return to the "Tonight Show" until earlier this year, when Jimmy Fallon took over as host. She was a guest on February 17, 2014.

Joan Rivers officiates the wedding of William "Jed" Ryan, left, and Joseph Aiello at the Plaza Athenee on August 15, 2014, in New York.

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• Rivers' daughter has shared few details about mother's condition


• The Rivers family's previous statement said they "are keeping our fingers crossed"


• Rivers stopped breathing during throat surgery at a Manhattan medical clinic Thursday


• She was undergoing an apparently minor elective procedure at the clinic

(CNN) -- Joan Rivers remains on life support five days after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest during a medical procedure, her daughter said Tuesday.

Melissa Rivers has shared few details with the public about her mother's condition since she was rushed to Manhattan's Mount Sinai Hospital Thursday.

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"On behalf of my mother and our family, we are extremely grateful for all the love and support we've received," she said in her latest statement. "At this time she does remain on life support. I know my mother would be overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of kindness and I want to thank everyone for keeping us in their prayers."

Concerns grow about Joan Rivers' health

The Rivers family's previous statement Sunday said they were "keeping our fingers crossed."

The Cleveland Clinic explains what being on life support means: "Life support replaces or supports a failing bodily function. When patients have curable or treatable conditions, life support is used temporarily until the illness or disease can be stabilized and the body can resume normal functioning. At times, the body never regains the ability to function without life support."

Rivers' daughter: 'Fingers crossed' on comedian's recovery

Rivers, 81, stopped breathing during throat surgery at a Manhattan medical clinic Thursday morning, according to the New York Fire Department. She apparently suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest during a procedure. She was listed in critical condition in New York's Mount Sinai Hospital, where paramedics took her by ambulance.

Rivers was undergoing an apparently minor elective procedure at the clinic, which is about a mile away from the hospital where she was taken.

Despite her age, Rivers was a busy comedian.

She had been scheduled to tape new episodes of the E! show "Fashion Police" with her daughter in New York this week, but the tapings have been canceled, a network spokeswoman said.

She performed her comedy act at New York's Laurie Beechman Theatre last Wednesday night and was booked to perform at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, on Friday.

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Michael Lucas, who was in the audience for Rivers' last show Wednesday night, told CNN that she joked about death.

"She said, 'You know I'm 81 years old, and I could drop dead at any moment and you would be so lucky because you will have a story to tell your friends for the rest of your life,' " Lucas said. "Then she mimicked people talking about what it was like to see her drop dead on stage."

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CNN's Jennifer Bixler, Carolyn Sung and Doug Ganley contributed to this report.