Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller was a pioneering American stand-up comedian whose brash wit and outrageous stage persona helped pave the way for generations of female comics. Born in 1917, she didn't launch her career until 1941, but once she found her voice as a stand-up performer, she became famous for her self-deprecating jokes about housework, marriage, and her fictional husband "Fang," all delivered in a distinctive cackling laugh and flamboyant, over-the-top wardrobe.

Beyond her groundbreaking stand-up work, Diller built a broad career as an actress, author, and voice actor, appearing across film and television while also publishing books and pursuing a lesser-known passion as a visual artist and musician. Her fearless, boundary-pushing comedy style influenced how women were seen in the male-dominated world of comedy, and she remained a beloved and instantly recognizable figure until her death in 2012.