Famous Families

Melissa Rivers Says Hollywood Will Never ‘Be Able to Replace’ Her Late Mom Joan Rivers

Published

7 years ago

November 7, 2019

Kelly Braun

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (9159842a) Television personalities Joan Rivers, left, and daughter Melissa Rivers attend the 2013 Matrix New York. Rivers, the raucous, acid-tongued comedian who crashed the male-dominated realm of late-night talk shows and turned Hollywood red carpets into danger zones for badly dressed celebrities, died . She was 81. Rivers was hospitalized Aug. 28, after going into cardiac arrest at a doctor's office Obit Joan Rivers, New York, USA

It’s been just over five years since Joan Rivers sadly passed away, but the iconic star’s daughter, Melissa Rivers, hasn’t gone one day without thinking of her late mother. While chatting with Closer Weekly at the opening night of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical in Los Angeles, Melissa explained why she is certain her mom’s incredible legacy will never be forgotten.

“I don’t think anyone’s ever going to be like my mom again!” the 51-year-old beauty exclusively shared with Closer on Wednesday, November 6. “Hopefully there’ll be someone who does something similar but, come on, we’re never gonna be able to replace my mom.”

joan-rivers-melissa-rivers

As fans know, Joan passed away at age 81 due to complications from throat surgery in September 2014. Although it’s been years since Melissa last spoke to the Fashion Police star, she told Closer that she’s lucky enough to get a glimpse of her mom every day when she looks at her 18-year-old son, Cooper Endicott.

“Oh, way too much,” Melissa admitted of being reminded of Joan, noting that the late TV host and Cooper have a lot of similarities. “That scares the s–t out of me.”

Although Cooper was barely just a teenager when his famous grandmother passed away, Melissa previously told Closer her mother and son were super alike. In fact, The Celebrity Apprentice alum — who shares her college-age son with ex-husband John Endicott — even gushed that her mom’s spirit lives on in her little man.

joan-rivers-melissa-rivers

“I look at my son and I think he is the truest example of my mother’s legacy,” she shared with Closer while hosting the L.A. Museum of the Holocaust’s gala in December 2018. “He’s smart, funny, and kind. He’s such a good person — where did he get that from?” Aww!

Melissa echoed a similar sentiment when she revealed how Cooper is similar to his beloved grandma. “I think my son has a tremendous sense of empathy which I like to think he got from me and my mom and my dad,” she told Closer in February 2019. “I love that he has humor. Sadly, he does not inherit my love of shopping!”

We can’t wait to see how Cooper honors Joan as he continues to grow up!

For more on your favorite celebs, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more exclusive news!