Popular red carpet mainstay and comedic legend Joan Rivers has died following several days on life support at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City. She was 81. Her daughter Melissa made the announcement Thursday.

"It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers," she said in a statement. "She passed peacefully at 1:17 p.m. surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided my mother."

Rivers was rushed to Mt. Sinai from a Manhattan doctor's office Aug. 28 after suffering from complications during outpatient throat surgery. According to the New York Fire Department, the popular television star stopped breathing during the procedure.

Rivers was born Joan Alexandra Molinski in 1933. She grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Barnard College. After working various odd jobs for several years, she broke into show business.

Her first role was in a play where she played opposite Barbara Streisand before she landed her role in "Candid Camera." She would later go on to make appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show." She would eventually start her own talk show, "The Joan Rivers Show," which would earn her an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host. On her website, Rivers described herself as "the first woman to break the glass ceiling of Late Night Television."

Rivers was most famous for hosting the popular E! television show "Fashion Police," a show that critiqued outfits worn by stars at the MTV video Music Awards and the Emmys with her notorious sense of comedic timing.  Rivers and her daughter starred in a reality show that documented the intimate moments of their lives, "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?"

In addition to her popular television career, Rivers authored 12 books in which she reflected on her career, her legacy and what she wanted to leave to her only grandson, Cooper. Her most recent book "Diary of a Mad Diva," was published in July 2014.

"Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated. My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."