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Melissa Rivers
Melissa Rivers 2012 (crop).jpg
Rivers during New York Fashion Week in 2012
Born
Melissa Warburg Rosenberg

(1968-01-20) January 20, 1968 (age 57)
Other names Melissa Endicott
Alma mater University of Pennsylvania
Occupation Television host, producer, actress
Years active 1978–present
Television Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, Fashion Police
Spouse(s)
John Endicott
(m. 1998; div. 2003)
Steve Mitchel
(m. 2025)
Partner(s)
  • Jason Zimmerman (2008–2012)
  • Mark Rousso (2015–2021)
Children 1
Parents

Melissa Warburg Rosenberg (born January 20, 1968), known as Melissa Rivers, is an American television host and actress. She is the only child of famous comedian Joan Rivers and producer Edgar Rosenberg.

Early Life and Education

Melissa Warburg Rosenberg was born in New York City on January 20, 1968. She spent most of her childhood in Los Angeles, California. She went to several schools, including the John Thomas Dye School and The Buckley School.

Melissa started dancing when she was 8 years old. By age 12, she was taking private lessons and was very serious about it. She later attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a degree in history in 1989. In 1990, she began using her mother's stage name, becoming known as Melissa Rivers.

Television Career

Melissa Rivers has had many roles in television shows. She appeared in Beverly Hills 90210, Silk Stalkings, and The Comeback. She also acted in the TV movie Men in White (1998) and the film The Big Tease (1999).

Melissa and her mother, Joan Rivers, played themselves in the 1994 TV movie Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story.

Red Carpet Host

In the early 1990s, Melissa became well-known for interviewing celebrities on the red carpet before major awards shows. She worked for the E! Network, hosting popular specials like Oh Baby! Melissa’s Guide to Pregnancy and Oh Toddler! Surviving the Early Years.

In 2003, Melissa and Joan Rivers moved from E! to the TV Guide Channel to continue their red carpet interviews. Melissa also appeared on the reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! on ABC.

Producing and Hosting Shows

Melissa was a co-creator and co-producer of her mother's YouTube show, In Bed with Joan. This show featured Joan interviewing celebrities in her bed, with Melissa asking questions at the end. Famous guests included Kathy Griffin, Sarah Silverman, and Kelly Osbourne.

Since August 31, 2015, Melissa Rivers has been a co-host on the show Fashion Police.

Charity Work

Melissa Rivers is also known for her charity work. In 2003, she appeared in an ad campaign for PETA. The campaign encouraged people to choose fake fur to protect animals.

She raised $100,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation from her appearance on the ABC show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Live in 2006. In 2008, she and her mother won $50,000 for their charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind, on the game show Celebrity Family Feud.

Melissa also played for the Lili Claire Foundation on the reality show Celebrity Apprentice. She raised $22,250 for Alzheimer's disease research on a special celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Personal Life

Melissa Rivers married horse trainer John Endicott in December 1998. They had a son named Edgar Cooper Endicott in 2000. The couple divorced in 2003. Her son, Edgar, appeared with Melissa and her mother on the reality show Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?.

Melissa was in a relationship with sports coach Jason Zimmerman from 2008 to 2011. From 2015 to 2021, she was in a relationship with talent agent Mark Rousso.

In 2022, Melissa met attorney Steve Mitchel. They got engaged in October 2023 and were married on March 15, 2025, in Jackson Hole.

In January 2025, her home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.

Film and TV Appearances

Year Film / TV Show Role Notes
1978 Rabbit Test Little girl Feature film
1991 Beverly Hills, 90210 Mackenzie Episode: "Fame Is Where You Find It"
1993 MTV Spring Break '93 Blind Date Host with Jon Stewart
1994 Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story Herself Television film
1998 Men in White Female Reporter #1 Television film
1999 Silk Stalkings Tegan Cook Episode: "A Clockwork Florida Orange"
1999 The Big Tease Dianne Abbott Television film
2000 Best Actress Herself Television film
2001 Just Shoot Me! Herself Episode: "Sugar Momma"
2004 Out for Blood Talk Show Host Direct-to-video
2004 Dave the Barbarian Princess Irmaplotz (voice) Recurring role; 3 episodes
2003–2017 Fashion Police Herself Executive producer; 112 episodes
Host; 31 episodes
2005 The L Word Herself Cameo Appearance; 1 episode "Lagrimos de Oro"
2005 I Love the '80s 3-D Herself Episode: "1989"
2007–2008 Jury Duty Herself Guest star; 5 episodes
2009 The Bold and the Beautiful Herself Guest star; 4 episodes
2009–2015 The Apprentice Herself Host; 12 episodes
2010 Cubed Human Resource Rep Guest star
2011–2013 Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? Herself Co-executive producer; 26 episodes
Main cast; 34 episodes
2013–2014 In Bed with Joan Herself Executive producer; 71 episodes
Guest star; 4 episodes
2015 Joy Joan Rivers Feature film
2016–2023 Hell's Kitchen Herself Chef's table guest diner for the blue team in Season 16
Guest diner in Season 22

Honors

  • On March 1, 2013, Melissa Rivers and her mother, Joan Rivers, were honored by the Ride of Fame. A special double-decker tour bus was dedicated to them in New York City.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Melissa Rivers para niños

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