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Phyllis Diller

What is phyllis diller?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Birth name Phyllis Ada Driver[2]
Born July 17, 1917, Lima, Ohio, U.S.[2]
Died August 20, 2012, Los Angeles, California, U.S.[2]
Occupation Stand-up comedian, actress, author, musician, visual artist[2]
Stand-up debut March 7, 1955, at the Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco[6]

Phyllis Diller was an American stand-up comedian and actress, born Phyllis Ada Driver in Lima, Ohio, who became one of the first successful female stand-up comics, known for her self-deprecating humor and stage persona [3].

Context

Phyllis Diller, born Phyllis Ada Driver in Lima, Ohio, became a trailblazer in stand-up comedy, making her debut at the Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco on March 7, 1955 [6]. She was one of the first female stand-up comics and the first woman to make her name in American stand-up comedy [3][5]. Her self-deprecating humor and stage persona set her apart, and she later became the first female comedian to headline a Vegas club [1]. Diller worked across comedy, television, film, and writing, and retired from acting and stand-up in 2002 [4].

Documented claims

  • Phyllis Diller was one of the first female stand-up comics in American comedy. [3]
  • She was the first woman to make her name in American stand-up comedy. [5]
  • Diller retired from acting and stand-up routine in 2002. [4]
  • She was the first female comedian to headline a Vegas club. [1]

Questions and answers

When did Phyllis Diller make her stand-up debut?

She made her stand-up debut at the Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco on March 7, 1955 [6].

Was Phyllis Diller a pioneer in comedy?

Yes, she was one of the first female stand-up comics and the first woman to make her name in American stand-up comedy [3][5].

When did Phyllis Diller retire?

She retired from acting and stand-up routine in 2002 [4].

Sources

  1. Phyllis Diller | Stand-up comedy, television, film - Britannica — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. The Performing Housewife — americanhistory.si.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Phyllis Diller - Life, Family & Quotes — biography.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Trivia - Phyllis Diller - IMDb — imdb.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Diller, Phyllis (1917—) — encyclopedia.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. Phyllis Diller Biography — who2.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Entertainment