John Endicott had a career of his own long before most people heard his name in celebrity news. He worked with horses, trained riders, and spent years building his experience in the equestrian business. Yet it was his marriage to Melissa Rivers, the daughter of comedian Joan Rivers, that introduced him to a much wider audience.
In December 1998, John married Melissa in a grand New York wedding. The celebration received plenty of attention, partly because Joan Rivers was already one of the biggest names in American entertainment. For a time, John became part of a family whose personal lives were regularly discussed on television.
Their marriage ended in 2003, but the public interest never completely disappeared. People still search for details about John, his son Cooper, and the work he has done since his divorce. His story brings together two very different worlds: the busy life of Hollywood celebrities and the demanding work of professional horse riding.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Endicott |
| Known As | Melissa Rivers’ Ex-Husband |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Equestrian Professional, Horse Trainer, Consultant |
| Birthplace | Not Publicly Disclosed |
| Date of Birth | Not Publicly Known |
| Famous For | Marriage to Melissa Rivers and Equestrian Career |
| Former Wife | Melissa Rivers |
| Marriage Date | December 12, 1998 |
| Divorce Date | June 19, 2003 |
| Children | Edgar Cooper Endicott (Son) |
| Former Mother-in-Law | Joan Rivers |
| Career Field | Horse Training, Horse Sales, Show Jumping, and Consulting |
| Current Status | Maintains a Private Life; Recent Personal Details Are Not Publicly Confirmed |
Who Is John Endicott?
John Endicott is an American equestrian professional with experience in horse training, riding competitions, horse sales, and consulting. Although his name is often linked with Melissa Rivers, his professional work has taken place mostly outside the entertainment industry.
For John, working with horses has meant much more than riding them. His experience includes helping clients purchase horses, training competitive riders, and advising people who own equestrian facilities.
His career has not received the same amount of publicity as Melissa’s television work. That is one reason many readers know about their marriage but are less familiar with his professional background.
His Early Life and Interest in Horses
Not much has been published about John’s early childhood. His parents’ names, exact birthday, and school history are not well established in reliable public records.
However, his professional biography gives readers some idea of how long he has been involved with horses. It describes decades of experience, beginning with quarter horses and later moving into competitive show jumping.
Working with different breeds and riding styles takes patience. Horses have their own habits, and trainers need time to understand how each animal behaves. Someone preparing a horse for competition must also think about the rider’s ability and confidence.
These are the skills that became important in John Endicott’s career. Rather than entering television or entertainment, he built his working life around an industry that demands practical knowledge.
John Endicott’s Career as an Equestrian Professional
One of the most interesting parts of John’s life is his experience in professional horse riding.
His biography with EQ Consults describes his involvement in international Grand Prix competitions. It also mentions his work coaching Grand Prix riders on the American West Coast.
In show jumping, a rider guides a horse around a course filled with obstacles. Both must work together to complete the course accurately. At the Grand Prix level, the jumps are more demanding, and small mistakes can make a big difference.
John’s experience gave him opportunities to work with riders who wanted to improve their performance. His responsibilities also extended into managing horse-related businesses and planning equestrian activities.
For readers who only know him as Melissa Rivers’ former husband, this is a part of his life worth understanding.
His Work With Horse Sales and Apollo Farms
John has also worked in the business side of the equestrian industry. His professional profile credits him with experience selling more than 2,500 show-jumping horses.
Buying a competition horse is not always straightforward. A horse may perform well with an experienced rider but be difficult for a beginner to handle. Choosing the right animal involves looking at its training, health, behavior, and ability.
John has provided advice to families and riders making these decisions. His consulting services have also covered leasing horses, planning farms, designing arenas, and selecting suitable riding surfaces.
Another name connected to his career is Apollo Farms, a hunter-jumper training barn near Los Angeles, California. His professional biography identifies him as a driving force behind the operation.
He has also been involved in organizing major equestrian events, including the 2017 Longines Masters International Horse Show.
How John Endicott Became Connected to Melissa Rivers
Melissa Rivers grew up in a family already familiar to millions of Americans. Her mother, Joan Rivers, was famous for her sharp humor, television appearances, and red-carpet interviews.
Melissa followed her into entertainment, developing her own work as a television host and producer.
John came from an entirely different professional background. Instead of spending his days around cameras, interviews, and television productions, he was involved in horse training and riding.
Public reports have not provided a detailed account of exactly how the two first met. What is certain is that their relationship became serious enough for them to marry in 1998.
Their wedding soon became a major story in entertainment publications.
Inside John Endicott and Melissa Rivers’ 1998 Wedding
John Endicott and Melissa Rivers married on December 12, 1998, at the famous Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Their wedding was far from an ordinary family gathering. Joan Rivers helped arrange an elaborate celebration, with the ballroom decorated to resemble a winter garden.
White flowers, birch trees, and luxurious decorations transformed the venue. Melissa wore a Vera Wang wedding gown, while friends and well-known entertainment personalities attended the event.
Reports at the time placed the cost of the wedding at approximately $3 million.
The celebration attracted attention not only because of its expense but also because of the Rivers family’s popularity. For John, it meant suddenly appearing in news stories alongside people who had spent their lives in the public eye.
Unfortunately, the happiness surrounding their wedding did not lead to a lasting marriage.
Becoming a Father to Edgar Cooper Endicott
Two years after their wedding, John and Melissa welcomed their son, Edgar Cooper Endicott, on December 1, 2000.
Cooper was named in honor of Melissa’s late father, Edgar Rosenberg. His birth also made Joan Rivers a grandmother, a family role she greatly enjoyed.
As Cooper grew up, viewers occasionally saw him with his mother and grandmother. He appeared in the reality television program Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, which showed moments from their family life.
John has shared relatively little about his personal relationship with Cooper in public interviews.
Although his marriage to Melissa ended, Cooper remains an important connection between John and the Rivers family.
What Caused John Endicott and Melissa Rivers’ Divorce?
After several years together, the marriage began to fall apart. John filed for divorce in 2002, citing irreconcilable differences.
The divorce was finalized on June 19, 2003, according to court documents reported at the time.
Their separation attracted media attention because Melissa was already a recognizable television personality. However, the couple did not publicly explain every problem that led to their marriage ending.
Reports confirmed the divorce but offered limited information about their private arrangements.
It would be misleading to blame either person without dependable evidence. Their relationship ended, and both moved forward with separate lives.
By the time the divorce became final, Cooper was still a young child.
John Endicott’s Life After the Divorce
Following the separation, John appeared far less often in entertainment news. Unlike Melissa, whose career involved regular public appearances, his work remained connected to the horse industry.
His professional background continued to include coaching, consulting, horse sales, and equestrian-event operations.
There is little dependable reporting about his private relationships following his divorce. He has not become a regular figure in celebrity interviews or reality television.
This has led to questions from people who remember his marriage to Melissa and want to know what happened afterward.
The information available today says much more about his equestrian career than his personal life.
Melissa Rivers’ Life After Their Marriage Ended
Melissa continued building her entertainment career after the divorce. She worked on television programs, covered celebrity fashion, and appeared alongside Joan Rivers on various projects.
Joan died in September 2014, leaving Melissa and Cooper to continue the family’s story.
Years later, Melissa began a relationship with attorney Steve Mitchel. They married on March 15, 2025, at the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
This wedding was different from her first. Rather than repeating the huge New York celebration, Melissa chose a gathering centered on family and friends.
Cooper attended the wedding and played a meaningful role in the occasion.
Melissa’s later marriage received fresh attention in entertainment news, while John remained largely outside those reports.
Where Is John Endicott Now?
People searching for John Endicott today often want to know whether he still works with horses, where he lives, and whether he has married again.
His published professional information connects him with equestrian consulting and training work on the West Coast, including the Los Angeles area.
However, reliable recent sources do not clearly establish his exact current residence or daily activities. His present relationship status has also not been publicly confirmed.
There is no need to guess about these details. John’s professional history is well documented in several areas, but his more recent personal circumstances remain less visible.
Why People Still Search for John Endicott
For many readers, the first introduction to John Endicott comes through a story about Melissa or Joan Rivers.
The Rivers family has remained a familiar name in American entertainment for decades. That continued interest naturally leads people to ask about former partners and other relatives.
John is also unusual among people connected to celebrity families because he had an established career in a completely different industry.
His experience with competition horses, riders, and equestrian businesses gives his story another side that is easy to miss when reading only about his marriage.
Conclusion
John Endicott became publicly known through his relationship with Melissa Rivers, but horses have played a much larger role in his working life.
His professional background includes training riders, competing in show jumping, selling horses, and advising equestrian businesses. These are accomplishments separate from his connection to the Rivers family.
His 1998 wedding to Melissa, the birth of their son Cooper, and their divorce in 2003 remain important parts of his personal history.
Although John has rarely appeared in celebrity headlines in recent years, his documented career offers a clearer understanding of who he is. He is not simply a former celebrity spouse, but a professional horseman whose work has taken place mostly away from television cameras.
(FAQs)
Who is John Endicott?
John Endicott is an American equestrian professional known for horse training, sales, riding competitions, and consulting. He is also the former husband of television personality Melissa Rivers.
When did John Endicott marry Melissa Rivers?
John Endicott married Melissa Rivers on December 12, 1998, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Their divorce was finalized in June 2003.
Does John Endicott have any children?
Yes. John and Melissa have one son, Edgar Cooper Endicott, born on December 1, 2000. Cooper is the grandson of legendary comedian Joan Rivers.
What is John Endicott’s profession?
John works in the equestrian industry. His professional experience includes horse training, Grand Prix riding, horse sales, coaching, and consulting for equestrian facilities.
Is John Endicott married now?
John Endicott’s current marital status has not been reliably confirmed through public information. His former wife, Melissa Rivers, married attorney Steve Mitchel in March 2025.
