Profile of the Day: Phyllis Diller

Today we remember comedian Phyllis Diller, who was born on July 17, 1917 in Lima, Ohio.

Image: Phyllis Diller / Allan Warren, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The only daughter of Perry Marcus Driver and Frances Ada Romshe, Diller studied the piano for many years but decided against pursing a career in music. In 1939, she eloped with Sherwood Diller and together, the couple had six children (one died in infancy). She got her start in comedy late in life, making her first standup comedy performance in 1955. She later gained national exposure as a contestant on Groucho Marx’s show You Bet Your Life. The height of her fame came from her many successful television and movie appearances, including multiple performances alongside fellow comedian Bob Hope.

As one of the first female standup comics, Diller pioneered the way for future female comedians. Her trademark laughter and self-depreciating humor captivated audiences for decades. According to her family, she died with a smile on her face in her home on August 20, 2012 at the age of 95.