Comedian Phyllis Diller -- who paved the way for today's female comics -- died this morning, TMZ has learned.
Sources close to Diller tell us the comedian died in her sleep at her L.A. home, surrounded by family. She was 95.
We're told Diller had recently fallen, hurting her wrist and hip -- but her rep says the injury had nothing to do with her death.
Diller suffered a heart attack in 1999 and was later fitted with a pacemaker.
Phyllis began her career all the way back in 1952 -- and rose to fame with her TV specials alongside Bob Hope in the 1960s.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2012/08/20/phyllis-diller-dead/#ixzz2494HyabZ
She was a pioneer, I remember watching her on TV(black and white) before she had plastic surgery. She was so funny. And all those female comics today have her to thank for building the path they followed
I never watched her shows (wish i did) but my mom said that she was the funniest person on earth.
harley, im with you, i also watched her in Black& White before color TV came out. She was a very funny lady & famous for her wild hairstyle she wore. another great funny lady gone but not forgotten.
Rest in Peace Phyliis.
I liked her pre-facelifts. Her laugh will live on forever.
I remember watching her also when I was little, I especially liked her & Bob Hope together in a show. She was a wacky lady & fun to watch. R.I.P. angel19.gif angel19.gif
Loved her jokes about her hubby "Fang" girls18.gif..All the really funny ones are leaving us..
Does anyone else remember her short lived but very funny show which ran for less than one season called 'The Pruitts of Southampton? She played a wealthy lady living in a mansion with her butler. The problem was she owed the IRS lots of money in back taxes. The IRS let her continue to live in her mansion broke, all the while putting on an act for the neighbors that she was still rich. It was through her act of still being rich that she continued to find herself in hysterically funny situations. That show was my first memory of Ms. Diller. lipstick.gif