Barry Humphries, an Australian comedian, who was best known for portraying characters including Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson has died aged 89. He passed away on Saturday in a hospital surrounded by his family.
The comedian had been admitted to a Sydney hospital earlier this week. He had “serious health problems” as a result of a recent hip replacement surgery. The news of Humphries’ death was confirmed by a spokesperson for St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.
A statement from his family reads: “He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit. With over 70 years on the stage, he was an entertainer to his core, touring up until the last year of his life and planning more shows that will sadly never be. His audiences were precious to him, and he never took them for granted. Although he may be best remembered for his work in theatre, he was a painter, author, poet, and a collector and lover of art in all its forms. He was also a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a friend and confidant to many. His passing leaves a void in so many lives. The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on.”
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Who was Barry Humphries?
Barry Humphries is a comedian, satirist, Dadaist, artist, and author.
Barry Humphries net worth
Barry Humphries had an estimated net worth of $12 million at the time of his passing, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Barry Humphries age
He was 89 years at the time of his death. He was born on February 17, 1934.
Barry Humphries relationship
Humphries was married four times. He was only 21 when he got married to Brenda Wright. It lasted less than two years. After that, he got married to Rosalind Tong and Diane Millstead respectively. His fourth wife, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Spender, is the daughter of British poet Sir Stephen Spender and the concert pianist Natasha Spender. She was a former actor.
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Barry Humphries career
Humphries’ on-stage and television alter ego was Dame Edna Everage, a fictional Melbourne housewife. The character was described by The Sydney Morning Herald as “a perfect parody of a modern, vainglorious celebrity with a rampant ego and a strong aversion to the audience.”
He also plays the character Sir Les Patterson, who was a foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the Court of St. James. Humphries was a film producer and scriptwriter, as well as a London West End musical theater star.
Barry Humphries family
He has two daughters, Tessa and Emily, and two sons, Oscar and Rupert, from his second and third marriages. His elder son Oscar was the editor of the art magazine Apollo and a contributing editor at The Spectator. He is now an art curator.
