Barry Humphries
John Barry Humphries AO CBE (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 | |
|---|---|
 Humphries in 2001 | |
| Born | John Barry Humphries 17 February 1934 Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 22 April 2023 (aged 89 years, 64 days) Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 4, including Tessa and Oscar |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1953–2023 |
| 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 89.[3][4] He had suffered a fall in February.
References
change- ↑ "Dayton McCarthy, The once and future army: a history of the Citizen Military Forces, 1947–74". awm.gov.au. 21 October 2022.
- ↑ Meacham, Steve (14 September 2010). "Absurd moments: in the frocks of the dame". Brisbane Times.
- ↑ "Barry Humphries, entertainment icon behind Dame Edna, dies aged 89". 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ↑ Runciman, Caleb (22 April 2023). "Barry Humphries: Australian comedic legend dies aged 89". The West Australian. Retrieved 22 April 2023.