Groundbreaking comic, Phyllis Diller died yesterday at the age of 95. Diller was truly one of a kind and paved the way for the female comedians we know now. She was unafraid to be brazen and eccentric from her comedy to her wardrobe. Much of Diller’s comedy was based on being a housewife living with her fictional husband, Fang. Whether or not it was Diller’s intention, her comedy intrinsically linked the personal and the political in showcasing the everyday lives of many women and being one of the first female comedians to put herself out there.
And above all else, Diller was gut-bustlingly hilarious. She will be missed terribly.
Phyllis Diller, Legendary Comedian, Is Dead (NPR)
Phyllis Diller was completely and inarguably herself (Los Angeles Times)
Phyllis Diller blazed trail for female comedians (Boston.com)
Diller at Ninety-Two (The New Yorker)
