Melissa Rivers 'Wishes' Mom Joan Rivers Could See What a 'Solid Person' Son Cooper Has Become (Exclusive)

Rivers shares her son with ex-husband John Endicott

Melissa Rivers' is proud of the man that her son has become.

The 56-year-old actress chatted with PEOPLE about her relationship with her 23-year-old son Edgar "Cooper," revealing what she wishes her late mom Joan Rivers could know about her "lovely, charming, [and] smart" boy.

"I wish she could see or know about what a solid person he's become and still becoming," Melissa, who now hosts the Melissa Rivers' Group Text podcast, where she chats about entertainment, current events and more with celeb guests including Chelsea Handler, Tan France and Eric McCormack, tells PEOPLE. "He's smart, he's funny, he's kind. He has empathy."

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Related: Melissa Rivers Gives Update on Adopting a Baby at 54: 'I've Cried a Lot'

"We were at a wedding a couple weeks ago and he's 23 now and I looked over and he was holding a glass of red wine, which already freaked me out. I want to walk over and be like, 'You're not having a drink.'"

"And chatting with people without me having to drag it out of him and laughing and having fun," Melissa, who recently got engaged to attorney Steve Mitchel, says. "I'm like, 'Oh my God. He's this lovely, charming, smart individual."

Above all else, Melissa says she would want her comedian mom to see that her son, whom she shares with ex John Endicott, has followed in her footsteps.

"But I think what would make her the happiest is the fact, what is the old saying? 'I hope you have children that turn out just like you.' And they always mean that in the negative sense. She would be so pleased that I have had that come true."

The proud mom also says her son is taking a page out of his grandmother's book as he develops his sense of humor.

"He has a great sense of humor, and I think she would be so excited to see all the things I did, especially at that age, to torture her. I'm getting it back in spades," she adds. "I read somewhere once, it was like, maybe you wake up one day and realize you have children like you. Well played karma."

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