- By Paul Glynn, Phil Mercer & Antoinette Radford
- BBC Information, London and Sydney
Watch: Dame Edna’s funniest moments in 60 seconds
Australian entertainer Barry Humphries, finest recognized for his comedian character Dame Edna Everage, has died aged 89.
The star had been in hospital in Sydney after struggling problems following hip surgical procedure in March. He had a fall in February.
Humphries’ most well-known creation grew to become a success within the UK within the Seventies and landed her personal TV chat present, the Dame Edna Everage Expertise, within the late Eighties.
His different personas included the lecherous drunk Sir Les Patterson.
In a press release, his household remembered him as “fully himself till the very finish, by no means dropping his good thoughts, his distinctive wit and generosity of spirit”.
They stated Humphries’ followers have been “treasured to him”, and stated his characters, “which introduced laughter to thousands and thousands, will stay on”.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute shortly after the information of Humphries’ demise broke.
“A terrific wit, satirist, author and an absolute one-of-kind, he was each gifted and a present,” Mr Albanese stated.
Picture supply, Getty Photographs
Melbourne-born Humphries moved to London in 1959, showing in West Finish exhibits resembling Maggie Could and Oliver!
Impressed by the absurdist, avant-garde artwork motion Dada, he grew to become a number one determine of the British comedy scene alongside contemporaries like Alan Bennett, Dudley Moore and Spike Milligan.
Broadcaster Joan Bakewell on her good friend Barry Humphries: “He had a really good thoughts”
Broadcaster Dame Joan Bakewell, a good friend of Humphries, instructed the BBC he had an “extraordinarily good thoughts”.
“A world during which I haven’t got the friendship of Barry Humphries is de facto painful. As a result of he was so resilient and energetic and loving and direct… that is a terrific absence in my life now,” she stated.
Comic Rory Bremner described Humphries as “lightning fast, subversive, mischievous… & savagely humorous” in a tweet.
He stated together with his passing “we lose an all-time nice”.
Actor and comic Rob Brydon additionally described Humphries as a “true nice who impressed me immeasurably” and stated it was a “delight to name him my good friend”.
Australian actor Jason Donovan tweeted a photograph of himself with Dame Edna and stated Humphries was “fairly merely an entertaining genius”.
‘Good day possums!’
In 1955, Humphries launched Mrs Norman Everage, the housewife from Moonee Ponds, a suburb in Melbourne, in a college manufacturing.
It was the primary iteration of the irrepressible character that will outline his profession.
Humphries stated his creation was speculated to final solely per week.
As an alternative, it blossomed into Dame Edna, his gaudy, sharp-tongued comedian alter ego who would depart audiences in stitches in Australia and past for many years. He stated the character was primarily based on his personal mom.
She grew to become extra outrageous because the years went on, and was famed for her lilac-rinsed hair, flamboyant glasses and catchphrase: “Good day possums!”
Picture supply, Getty Photographs
Humphries appeared as Dame Edna on stage, on display and in print all through his lengthy profession
Humphries even wrote an autobiography, My Beautiful Life, because the character.
His different well-liked characters on stage and display included the extra grandfatherly Sandy Stone.
He stated of Stone in 2016 that he may “lastly really feel myself turning into him”.
Humphries additionally introduced six sequence for BBC Radio 2, the newest being a 3 half sequence celebrating 100 years of the BBC.
The commissioning govt for Radio 2, Laura Busson, stated his sequence “Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces” was vastly well-liked with audiences, and could be revealed on BBC Sounds in the present day as a tribute to the comic.
Picture supply, Getty Photographs
He additionally voiced the shark Bruce in 2003 Pixar animated movie Discovering Nemo
The comedian actor, writer, director and scriptwriter, who was additionally a eager panorama painter, introduced a farewell tour for his satirical one-man stage present in 2012. However he returned final 12 months with a sequence of exhibits wanting again at his profession.
His different credit included voicing the shark Bruce in 2003 Pixar animated movie Discovering Nemo, in addition to appearances in 1967 comedy Bedazzled, Spice World, The Hobbit and Completely Fabulous: The Film.
Humphries was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, one of many nation’s highest civic honours, in 1982.
Later in his profession, he was criticised for referring to gender affirmation surgical procedure as “self-mutilation” and described transgender identification as a “trend”.
However his followers in Australia are mourning the lack of a comedy legend.
He was married 4 occasions, and leaves behind his spouse of Lizzie Spender and 4 youngsters.
What are your recollections of Barry? Did you ever meet him? Share your recollections by emailing [email protected].
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