Good, Bad Come With Rivers Name

Being the daughter of Joan Rivers and Edgar Rosenberg has always been a mixed blessing for Melissa Rivers.

“It opens as many doors as it closes,” says Rivers, who’s directing a new production of Darlene Craviotto’s war-of-the-sexes comedy “Pizza Man” at the Groundlings Theatre. “But I was raised in this business, so I know what that’s about. People are really curious to meet you and see what you’re like; sometimes they just want to sneer. I have no idea what it would be like not to have that baggage.”

Rivers got her SAG card at 16 and started working steadily in 1989. What she doesn’t like is taking flak for using her mom’s last name.

“It’s easier to spell,” she says lightly. “Rosenberg is a long rambling name from hell. But yes, it’s still on my passport, my license. Legally, I’m Melissa Rosenberg. I’ll always be my father’s daughter.”

That brings up some real pain--recalling the public scrutiny that followed her father’s 1987 suicide. “No, I didn’t want to share his death with the whole world,” she says. “I wasn’t prepared for it, but once the suicide happened, I realized it was going to be a media circus.” Nowadays, she adds, “I have a tremendous amount of privacy. I’m very protective of my personal life.”