Joan Rivers was placed in a medically induced coma Thursday — just hours after cracking jokes on stage about her own mortality.
Emergency workers pulled the unresponsive comic from an Upper East Side doctor’s office where Rivers was in the midst of a procedure on her vocal cords, sources told the Daily News. The comic and fashion critic was rushed about 9:40 a.m. from Yorkville Endoscopy on E. 93rd St. to Mount Sinai Hospital.
“I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support for my mother,” Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers, said in a statement Thursday night.
The daughter, 46, arrived at the hospital in a Chevrolet Suburban with tinted windows just after 8 p.m. She entered through a shipping and receiving gate and was whisked up to the 11th-floor luxe suites to see her mother.
“She is resting comfortably and is with our family,” Melissa Rivers said. “We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.”
The medical emergency was a shocking turn from the night before when Rivers left ’em laughing during a standup show where she joked about her time remaining on Earth.
“She did a joke onstage, she goes, ‘I’m 81 — I could go at any moment,'” recounted Shade Rupe, 45, who attended the Wednesday night show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. “‘I could fall over right here and you all could say, ‘I was there!'”
The laughter was replaced Thursday by grave concern, as friends stood vigil at the hospital and awaited Melissa Rivers’ arrival from California.
“We are scared,” a family source told The News. “This is not looking good.”
Rivers, who was in critical condition late Thursday, will remain in a coma until the weekend, when doctors will discuss with her daughter the damage caused when her mother fell unconscious during a routine visit.
“They don’t know how long she was starved of oxygen,” a source said.
A source said Rivers had struggled with vocal trouble for the past year, and finally went Thursday for a diagnosis. The Brooklyn-born comic, known for her distinctive husky voice, kidded with friends about her throat woes.
“She is going to have a million jokes about what that doctor did to her,” predicted one optimistic pal.
Rivers’ longtime publicist, Judy Katz, was in Rivers’ hospital room with assistants Graham Reed and Jocelyn Pickett.
Reed was overheard outside the hospital telling someone that Rivers was “not conscious, but she’s stable.”
A family source said other friends were gathering Thursday inside Rivers’ apartment, nervously awaiting medical updates.
“She would want us all to laugh,” the source said. “But at the moment, we are all praying.”
There was an immediate Twitter outpouring for the groundbreaking comedienne, widely hailed for helping women find their place in the male-dominated industry.
Among those sending along goodwill were two current comics who followed in her funny footsteps.
“Get well my friend,” tweeted fellow comic Kathy Griffin.
“I’m thinking about you and sending lots of love your way,” wrote Ellen DeGeneres.
Outside the hospital, fans turned out to support the take-no-prisoners comic whose career stretched across six decades.
“I love her,” said fan Frank Rosado, 55, who came to Mount Sinai after hearing the grim news. “She’s a great human being. I would not like to lose her. We just lost Robin Williams.”
Celebrity pals sent message of support, too.
“We love you Joan Rivers #prayers xoxoxo,” tweeted Hoda Kotb a News columnist and “Today” show host.
“Love and prayers for Joan Rivers,” wrote Bernadette Peters.
The perpetually busy Rivers was slated for a now-canceled Friday night show at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, N.J.
Rivers became a household name shortly after a 1965 breakthrough spot that left Johnny Carson in tears behind his desk on “The Tonight Show.”
Over the years, she repeatedly reinvented herself: Hosting a daytime talk show, co-starring with daughter Melissa on reality television, writing a dozen books, even selling jewelry on cable television.
But she never left her standup career behind, and was actually trying out some new material at her Wednesday night appearance.
Rupe, who had never seen Rivers in person, said he was amazed by her energy and attitude.
“She was so on,” he recalled Thursday. “If you had me guess her age, I’d say she was in her 50s. She didn’t miss a step, she didn’t go ditzy, she didn’t forget anything and her timing was amazing.”
He said she was perfectly in control from the moment she walked on stage. Rivers accepted a bouquet of flowers from an excited fan at the end of the one-hour show.
Rupe said the comedienne left the 99-seat theater on W. 43rd St. about 9:30 p.m. The plastic surgery veteran posed for a picture with Rupe before she headed off.
“She looked fantastic,” recalled Rupe. “I saw her leaving, and I just wanted to say ‘Hi.’ I said, ‘Would you mind doing a picture?’ and she did it.”
With Rich Schapiro
