Comedian Joan Rivers died Thursday, September 4, a week after suffering cardiac arrest during a medical procedure, her daughter said. She was 81. Click through the gallery to 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, have been regulars on awards show red carpets, critiquing celebrity fashion with lines both generous and cutting. 
Rivers talks with Tim McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, at the Grammys in 2005. 
Rivers with Tina O'Brien at the British Academy Television Awards in 2007. 
Rivers was 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. Here, 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 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 Fallon's show on February 17. 
Rivers officiates the wedding of William "Jed" Ryan, left, and Joseph Aiello at the Plaza Athenee on August 15 in New York.
- Joan Rivers' death "resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy," report says
- It was "during laryngoscopy and ... endoscopy with propofol sedation"
- The initial report did not name the doctor or doctors
- Rivers, 81, died a week after an appointment at Yorkville Endoscopy clinic
(CNN) -- Comedian Joan Rivers died of "therapeutic complications" during a procedure to evaluate her "voice changes" and stomach reflux, the New York medical examiner said Thursday.
"The classification of a death as a therapeutic complication means that the death resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy," the report said.
Rivers, 81, died September 4, a week after an appointment at Manhattan's Yorkville Endoscopy clinic.
The medical examiner's investigation ruled that the cause of death was "anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest," a medical description of brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen.
Joan Rivers: Memorable moments 
Daughter Melissa Rivers and her son, Cooper Endicott, arrive for Joan Rivers' memorial service at Temple Emanu-El in New York City on Sunday, September 7. Rivers passed away on September 4 after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest during a medical procedure on August 28. 
Journalist Diane Sawyer 
Judith Sheindlin, television's "Judge Judy" 
Broadway star Tommy Tune 
Producer Desiree Gruber and actor Kyle MacLachlan 
Television journalist Barbara Walters 
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker 
"Today" show co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb 
Actress and TV personality Kelly Osbourne 
Radio host Howard Stern and wife, Beth Ostrosky Stern 
Comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg 
Business mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump 
New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams 
Fashion designer Michael Kors 
Fashion designer Carolina Herrera Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers
Photos: Celebrities pay respects to Joan Rivers Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words
Joan Rivers: In her own words The arrest happened "during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease," the medical examiner's officer said.
The initial report did not name the doctor or doctors who performed the procedures.
Timeline emerges in Joan Rivers' death
What happened?
Several clinic workers told investigators that the August 28 appointment began with Rivers' personal throat doctor, Dr. Gwen Korovin, performing a laryngoscopy, which involves using a device to view a patient's vocal folds, a source close to the investigation told CNN last month.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Lawrence Cohen, who was the medical director of the clinic until resigning after Rivers' death, then performed an endoscopy intended to diagnose why she was suffering a sore throat and hoarseness, the source said.
Cohen detected something of concern, the source said.
Korovin then began a second laryngoscopy to again view River's vocal cords, the source said. It was at that time that her vocal cords began to swell, leading to a cutoff of oxygen to her lungs and ultimately to cardiac arrest, according to the source.
Korovin was authorized only to observe Cohen, who performed the procedure, since she was not certified by Yorkville Endoscopy clinic, as required by New York health law, the source said.
Investigators have found no prior consent form signed by Rivers authorizing a procedure by Korovin, the source said. It was unclear if Rivers had given verbal consent to the biopsy before being sedated.
But Korovin denied "performing an unauthorized procedure" before the comedian suffered cardiac arrest, a source close to the doctor told CNN last month.
Paramedics rushed Rivers from the clinic to New York's Mount Sinai Hospital a mile away, where she was kept on life support until she died a week later.
E!'s 'Fashion Police' to continue without Joan Rivers
Doctor to the stars
Korovin is well known for helping an impressive list of celebrities with voice trouble. The list of famous patients who have sung her praises include actors Hugh Jackman and Nathan Lane and singers Celine Dion, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.
The walls of Korovin's Manhattan medical office are covered with autographed photos, including from operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Broadway star Barbara Cook and actress-singer Julie Andrews.
"I've always been fascinated by the human voice and music," Korovin, 55, is quoted telling the New York Daily News in a profile story last year.
Korovin's lawyer sent a statement to CNN last month in response to reports that questioned whether her actions played any role in Rivers' death.
"Gwen S. Korovin, M.D. is a highly experienced, board certified otolaryngologist. She maintains privileges at one of the city's most prestigious hospitals. She is respected and admired by her peers in the medical community and she is revered by her patients.
"As a matter of personal and professional policy, Dr. Korovin does not publicly discuss her patients or their care and treatment. Further, Dr. Korovin is prohibited by state and federal confidentiality laws from discussing her care and treatment of any particular patient."
CNN's Brian Vitagliano and Susan Candiotti contributed to this report.
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