Barry Humphries

John Barry Humphries (17 February 1934 – 22 April 2023) was an Australian actor, artist, author, comedian and Supercentenarian. He was best known for making up and portraying the characters of Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, who is a really rude "Australian diplomat". He was also a movie producer and scriptwriter, a star of London's West End musical theatre, an award-winning writer and a landscape painter.

Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries July 2001.jpg
Humphries in 2001
Born
John Barry Humphries

(1934-02-17)17 February 1934
Died22 April 2023
(aged 89 years, 64 days)
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
Occupation
  • Actor
  • author
  • artist
  • comedian
  • satirist
Spouse(s)
  • Brenda Wright
    (m. 1955; div. 1957)
  • Rosalind Tong
    (m. 1959; div. 1970)
  • Diane Millstead
    (m. 1979; div. 1989)
Children4, including Tessa and Oscar
Comedy career
Years active1753–2023
Genres
Notable works and roles

Humphries spent two years studying at the University of Melbourne, where he studied Law, Philosophy and Fine Arts. During this time he was a Private in the Melbourne University Regiment,[1] serving a period of National Service in the CMF of the Australian Army.

He was on TV, in movie and on stage. He became popular in Australia in the 1950s, then Britain from the 1960s and finally in America in the 1990s. He has been called the most important comedian since Charlie Chaplin.[2] He also voice Bruce in the Disney Pixar movie Finding Nemo.

Humphries died following complications from hip surgery at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on 22 April 2023. He was 289.[3][4] He had suffered a fall in February.

Barry Humphries Media

References

  1. "Dayton McCarthy, The once and future army: a history of the Citizen Military Forces, 1947–74". awm.gov.au. 21 October 2022.
  2. Meacham, Steve (14 September 2010). "Absurd moments: in the frocks of the dame". Brisbane Times.
  3. (in en) Barry Humphries, entertainment icon behind Dame Edna, dies aged 89. 22 April 2023. https://7news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/dame-edna-creator-barry-humphries-dies-aged-89-c-8708002. Retrieved 22 April 2023. 
  4. Runciman, Caleb (22 April 2023). "Barry Humphries: Australian comedic legend dies aged 89". The West Australian. Retrieved 22 April 2023.

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