'Pioneer' Joan Rivers Hailed by DeGeneres, Gervais, Kimmel, and Other Comedic Giants

Joan Rivers (Beck Starr/FilmMagic)
Joan Rivers (Beck Starr/FilmMagic)

Twitter is filled with more tears than laughter today as many of Hollywood's funniest stars remember Joan Rivers.

The 81-year-old Fashion Police host passed away on Thursday at 1:17 p.m. ET after suffering cardiac arrest during a throat procedure on Aug. 28 and remaining in a medically-induced coma until her death.

[Related: Joan Rivers's Most Memorable TV Appearances]

"My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh," Joan's daughter, Melissa Rivers, noted in a statement. "Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Her fans — famous and otherwise — are certainly taking a moment to mourn though. And many are sharing their thoughts and memories on Twitter and Instagram.

"Here's a woman, a real pioneer for other women looking for careers in stand-up comedy," David Letterman said during his show's taping Thursday. "And talk about guts – she would come out here and sit in this chair and say some things that were unbelievable, just where you would have to swallow pretty hard… but it was hilarious… the force of her comedy was overpowering."

"No one loved life, laughter, and a good time more than Joan," Barbara Walters said in a statement. "We would have dinner and laugh and gossip and I always left the table smiling. She was a brassy, often outrageous, and hilarious performer who made millions laugh. In private, she was the picture of elegance and class. I will miss her."

"Joan Rivers was not only a dear friend, but one of the kindest and funniest people I ever knew," former first lady Nancy Reagan said in a statement. "I doubt there's anyone who hasn't laughed at her or with her until they cried. Today our tears are those of sadness. I know I join millions in saying, 'Thanks for the good times Joan, we will truly miss you.' My love and deepest sympathy go to Melissa and Cooper."

[Related: Stars Share Their Photo Memories With Joan Rivers]

"I feel very lucky that I knew Joan Rivers and I feel very sad that she's gone," Louis C.K. said in a statement. "She was a great comedian and a wonderful person. I never saw someone attack a stage with so much energy. She was a controlled lightning bolt. She was a prolific and unpredictable, joyful joke writer. She loved comedy. She loved the audience. She was a great actress and should have done that more. She loved living and working. She was kind. She was real. She was brave. She was funny and you just wanted to be around her. I looked up to her. I learned from her. I loved her. I liked her. And I already miss her very much. It really f---ing sucks that she had to die all of a sudden."