Joan Rivers "banned" US First Lady Michelle Obama, pop star Adele, and US talk show host Chelsea Handler from attending her funeral just weeks before her sudden death.

The showbiz veteran died on Thursday last week, days after suffering a cardiac arrest during a routine throat procedure.

Her funeral was held in her native New York on Sunday and attracted a galaxy of stars including Australian actor Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg, Kelly Osbourne, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

It has now emerged Rivers had previously drawn up a wish-list of famous faces who should stay away.