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- By Paul Glynn, Phil Mercer and Antoinette Radford
- BBC News, London and Sydney
WATCH: Lady Edna’s funniest moments in 60 seconds
Australian entertainer Barry Humphries has died aged 89.
The star has been in hospital in Sydney following complications from hip surgery in March. He fell in February.
Best known for her work, Humphries took Britain by storm in the 1970s and launched her own TV talk show, Dame Edna Ever Experience, in the late 1980s.
His other roles include lecherous drunkard Sir Les Paterson.
In a statement, his family remembered him as “totally himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique intellect and generous spirit”.
They said Humphries’ fans were “invaluable to him” and said his character “brought laughter to millions and will live on”.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his condolences shortly after news of Humphries’ death broke.
“A great wit, satirist, writer and absolutely unique, he was gifted and gifted,” Mr Albanese said.
Image Source, Getty Images
Melbourne-born Humphries moved to London in 1959 and appeared on West End shows such as Maggie May and Oliver!
Inspired by the absurd, the avant-garde art movement Dada, he became a leading figure in British comedy alongside contemporaries such as Alan Bennett, Dudley Moore and Spike Milligan.
Comedian Rory Bremner described Humphries as “lightning quick, subversive, mischievous…and hilariously funny” in the tweet.
“We have lost one of the greatest men in history,” he said at the time of his death.
Welsh actor and comedian Rob Brydon also described Humphreys as a “truly great man who was an inspiration to me” and said he was “happy to call him my friend”.
Australian actor Jason Donovan tweeted a photo of him with Lady Edna and called Humphreys “simply a funny talent”.
“Hello possum!”
In 1955, Humphreys introduced Mrs Norman Everage, a housewife from the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds, in a college production.
This is the first iteration of the irrepressible character that has defined his career.
Humphreys said his creation should only last a week.
Instead, it developed into Lady Edna, his flashy, sharp-tongued comedic alter ego that stunned audiences in Australia and beyond for decades. He said the character was based on his own mother.
As the years passed, she became even more outrageous and became known for her lavender hair, flashy glasses, and catchphrase “Hello Possum!”
Image Source, Getty Images
Humphries appeared on stage, screen and in print as Lady Edna throughout his long career
Humphreys even wrote an autobiography, My Magnificent Life, as the character.
His other popular roles on stage and screen include the more grandfatherly Sandy Stone.
He said of Stone in 2016 that he “finally felt like he was becoming him.”
Humphreys has also presented six series for BBC Radio 2, the latest being a three-part series celebrating the BBC’s 100th anniversary.
Radio 2’s head of commissioning, Laura Busson, said his series ‘Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces’ was a hit with viewers and will be released today on BBC Sounds as a tribute to the comedian.
Image Source, Getty Images
He also voiced Bruce the Shark in the 2003 Pixar animated film Finding Nemo
The comedian, writer, director and screenwriter, who is also a keen landscape painter, announced in 2012 that he was saying goodbye to his satirical one-man stage show. But he returned last year with a series of performances looking back at his career.
His other credits include the voice of Bruce Shark in the 2003 Pixar animated film Finding Nemo, and the 1967 comedies Dazzling, Spice World, The Hobbit and Fabulous: The Movie .
In 1982 Humphreys was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia, one of Australia’s highest civil honors.
Later in his career, he was criticized for calling gender-affirming surgery “self-harm” and describing transgender identity as “fad.”
But his fans in Australia are mourning the death of a comedy legend.
He was married four times and is survived by his wife, Lizzie Spender, and four children.
What are your memories of Barry? have you met himShare your memories via email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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