Barry Humphries, the popular Australian comedian and actor has passed away on April 22nd, 2023, at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.
The 89-year-old, who is best known for portraying the character Dame Edna, recently underwent hip replacement surgery but, due to complications, was readmitted to hospital before his death.
Barry Humphries pictured as Dame Edna Everage in a Woman’s Day shoot from last year.
(Image: David Hahn/Woman’s Day)But before his untimely passing, the comedian spoke with King Charles – who he had a great friendship with – while in hospital. Film director Bruce Beresford confirmed to The Australian that the unlikely friends spoke.
“Barry said, ‘Well, I always admired him. We always got on well and I really liked his company and enjoyed being with him’,” he told the publication.
“‘Barry was one of those people, he had great capacity for friendship. He was so interested in people.”
Barry Humphries passed away on April 22.
(Image: Getty)Born in Melbourne in 1934, Humphries began his career as a satirical cartoonist before moving into the world of comedy. He first introduced Dame Edna in 1955, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that the character became a household name, thanks to Humphries’ irreverent and often politically incorrect humor.
Dame Edna, a housewife and talk show host, quickly became known for her outrageous outfits, oversized glasses, and distinctive purple hair. She hosted her own TV shows, appeared in numerous films, and even performed on Broadway, earning Humphries critical acclaim and a legion of devoted fans.
In addition to Dame Edna, Humphries created several other memorable characters, including the drunken cultural attache Sir Les Patterson and aging Sandy Stone. He also wrote several books, including his autobiography “My Life As Me”.
Humphries was awarded numerous honours throughout his career, including an Order of Australia in 1982 and a Commander of the British Empire in 2007. In recent years, Barry appeared in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey among many other projects.
Humphries will be remembered as one of Australia’s greatest comedians, whose humour was often controversial but always entertaining. He is survived by his wife Lizzie Spender, his four children and 10 grandchildren.
