A once highly serious student of the piano, she owns a custom-made harpsichord which she prizes.
Among her five children with Sherwood Anderson Diller were sons Peter Diller (now deceased), Perry Diller and daughters Sally Diller, Stephanie Diller (also deceased) and Sue Diller.
Announced her retirement from nightclub/stage tours at age 84 in May, 2002. Had pacemaker implanted at age 81. Lives in Brentwood section of Los Angeles, California.
As of 2000, had appeared as a piano soloist with 100 symphony orchestras across the United States, including performances in Dallas, Denver, Annapolis, Houston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Cincinnati.
Attended a July 2003 Las Vegas function on invitation of Wayne Newton, to help celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Stardust Hotel and Casino.
Before Joan Rivers made it as a stand-up comic, she wrote jokes for Phyllis Diller.
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 137-139. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Breakthrough came in March, 1955, age 37, with debut at San Francisco's Purple Onion club, and career was launched with subsequent appearance on Jack Paar's show. Later got major boost from Bob Hope, who saw Diller in a Washington, D.C. club. She went on to appear in 3 of Hope's movies and 23 of his TV specials.
Briefly served as honorary mayor in the affluent town of Brentwood, California.
Earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993.
Had 10-year affair with "the love of my life", lawyer Robert Hastings before his death on May 23, 1996.
Has a large collection of Waterford Crystal which she has collected over the past 50 years.
Has had numerous face lifts, a popular topic in her comedy routines.
Her second marriage, to actor Warde Donovan, actually lasted only nine weeks.
Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 7003 Hollywood Blvd.
In 1999 she suffered serious heart attack, although not expected to live, Diller recovered well enough to return to the stage for a couple of years.
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".
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.
Nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame for her recorded version of The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction".
Often erroneously attributed with being the mother of Susan Lucci. Although their ages do not preclude this, they are not related.