Legendary Actress/Comedienne Phyllis Diller Dead at 95

[80sTrivia]

Legendary actress and comedienne Phyllis Diller has died in Los Angeles at the age of 95. No cause of death has been announced as of yet.

The self-effacing comic with the instantly recognizable laugh and outrageous attire became a household name after ditching the constrictive lifestyle of a housewife in the 1950s to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. She quickly made a name for herself, donning colorful outfits and garish wigs, along with her signature cigarette and white gloves.

She had a lifelong friendship with the equally legendary Bob Hope, who was her co-star in several movies. After divorcing her first husband Sherwood Diller—who had encouraged her to get into show business in the first place—she married entertainer Warde Donovan, only to separate and divorce after a few months together. She began to famously refer to her "husband" as the mysterious "Fang", which would remain a permanent part of her act, along with her wardrobe and that highly distinctive laugh that set her apart from every other entertainer of the day.

More of the story here: http://www.migueldante.com/2012/08/s...s-diller.html#