- The cigarette with holder that she was famous for using in her stand-up routines in the 1960s and 1970s was only a prop for the act. She was a lifelong non-smoker.
- Before Joan Rivers succeeded as a stand-up comedienne, she wrote jokes for Diller.
- She was a housewife in a San Francisco suburb with five children and an underemployed husband who eventually convinced her to make money with the talent she regularly displayed in PTA skits.
- A once highly serious student of the piano, she owned a prized custom-made harpsichord.
- Had appeared as a piano soloist with 100 symphony orchestras across the US, including performances in Dallas, Denver, Annapolis, Houston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cincinnati.
- Briefly served as honorary mayor in the affluent town of Brentwood, California.
- In her later years after several cosmetic procedures, she posed semi-nude for spicy pictures proposed to be in Playboy magazine, similar to those published of Joan Collins, to prove that women can still be sexy in their 50s and 60s. The photos were not published in the magazine, but one is included in her autobiography "Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse".
- Had a ten-year affair with lawyer Robert Hastings (whom she described as "the love of my life") until his death on May 23, 1996.
- Retired from acting and stand-up routine in 2002 at age 84, due to ill health. Continued to lend her voice to animated characters in movies.
- She suffered a serious heart attack and had pacemaker implanted. Although not expected to live, she recovered well enough to return to the stage for a couple of years (1999).
- Breakthrough came in March 1955, at age 37, with he debut at San Francisco's Purple Onion club, and her career was launched with a subsequent appearance on Jack Paar's show. Later she got a major boost from Bob Hope, who saw Diller in a Washington, D.C. club. She went on to appear in three of Hope's movies and 23 of his television specials.
- She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 7001 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 15, 1975.
- Had numerous facelifts, a popular topic in her comedy routines.
- Per the 1940 census, Phyllis and her husband Sherwood Diller lived at 403 Cherry Street, Bluffton (Allen County), Ohio with Sherwood's widowed mother, Maude Anderson Diller and Sherwood's siblings, Jeanne K. and Milburn Diller. Phyllis went to college for four years. In 1935, Phyllis (who was single) lived in Lima, Allen County, Ohio. Her father was born in Virginia; mother born in Ohio.
- Had a large collection of Waterford Crystal which she has collected over a period of 50 years.
- Described her comedy as "tragedy revisited".
- She worked as a copywriter before becoming a comedienne.
- In the mid-1960s, the trademark quirky dresses that she wore during performances were designed by Gloria Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska. Phyllis jokingly referred to Johnson as "Omar of Omaha", as tent dresses were in vogue at the time.
- She had six children with Sherwood Anderson Diller: Peter Diller (1940-1998), Sally Diller (born 1944), Perry Diller (born 1945, but only lived for two weeks in a neonatal incubator), Sue Diller (born 1946), Stephanie Diller (1948-2002), and a second Perry Diller (born 1950).
- She was cremated and her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
- She was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California on March 8, 2001.
- Studied at Chicago's Sherwood Music Conservatory for three years before eloping with Sherwood Anderson Diller (1939).
- Fractured her back. (July 2007)
- Often erroneously attributed as being the mother of Susan Lucci. Although their ages do not preclude this, they are not related.
- She had a collection of 200+ handbags, 200 +wigs, 1,000 dresses and fox furs, 300 hats and 400 pairs of shoes, lived in a 12 room mansion and had a collection of vintage cars.
- Alumna of Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
- Nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame for her recorded version of The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction".
- Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award (1990).
- Diller's career was highlighted in "The Slapstick Queens", by James Robert Parish, published by A. S. Barnes (1973).
- She was awarded a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame at 6366 Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri on May 16, 1993.
- She attended a Las Vegas function on invitation of Wayne Newton, to help celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Stardust Hotel and Casino. (July 2003)
- Interviewed in "The Great Comedians Talk About Comedy" by Larry Wilde (1968).
- Her home in Brentwood (Los Angeles 90049) was at 163 S. Rockingham. She lived a block from Pat O'Brien, who lived at the corner of Marlboro.
- Diller is considered a pioneer for female comics, paving the way for strong women such as Roseanne Barr and Ellen DeGeneres.
- Her longtime agent was Fred Westbrook.
- Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 137-139. New York: Facts on File (1992). ISBN 0816023387.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content