Dame Edna Creator Barry Humphries Dead At 89
Image: Images: WTCA/Eva Rinaldi/Wikimedia Commons
Legendary Australian comedian, Barry Humphries has died at the age of 89.
Famous for his iconic characters such as Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, Humphries was surrounded by family when he died. He had been in the hospital due to health issues caused by a broken hip.
The news of his readmission to the hospital had been broken by Entertainment Reporter Peter Ford on Channel Seven鈥檚 Sunrise.
鈥淏arry won鈥檛 give up easily. Whether that鈥檚 a realistic goal, I don鈥檛 know 鈥� I am told that Barry鈥檚 health has worsened in the last week,鈥� Ford said.
Early Life
Born in Kew, east of Melbourne on the 17th of February 1934, his education was at Melbourne Grammar School where he excelled in literature and the arts. He later studied law, fine arts and philosophy at the University of Melbourne before turning his attention to theatre and street drama.
He joined the Melbourne Theatre Company and it was there that the first incarnation of what would become one of his most iconic characters, Edna Everage was created.
In 1959, he moved to London and jumped straight into a series of West End productions, comedy programs, and a bawdy cartoon strip that would later lead to the Australian movie The Adventures of Barry McKenzie.聽The film’s success led to a sequel and from there, Humphries’s career continued to go up.
The Country Sends Its Tributes
Since the announcement of his death, many across the country and on the international stage have posted their tributes on social media about the late comedian. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on his Twitter “For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone. But the brightest star in that galaxy was always Barry. A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift. May he rest in peace.”
For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone.
But the brightest star in that galaxy was always Barry.
A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift.
May he rest in peace.
鈥� Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP)
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also shared his tribute, writing “RIP Barry Humphries – one of the greatest ever Australians – and a comic genius who used his exuberant alter egos, Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, to say the otherwise unsayable. Also an infallibly brilliant Spectator contributor. What a loss.”
RIP Barry Humphries, 89.
One of the funniest people I鈥檝e ever met. A wondrously intelligent, entertaining, daring, provocative, mischievous comedy genius. As hilarious in private as he was as the iconic Dame Edna. What a life, what a character. Thanks for all the laughs, Barry.鈥� Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan)
Transphobic Comments Over The Years
While he鈥檚 been an Aussie icon around the world for his characters, Humphries had been repeatedly slammed for his transphobic comments over the years.
In January , he stirred outrage after having described gender-reassignment surgery as 鈥渟elf-mutilation鈥� in comments about Caitlyn Jenner.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e a mutilated man that鈥檚 all,鈥� Humphries told the Daily Telegraph.
鈥淪elf-mutilation, what鈥檚 all this carry on? Caitlyn Jenner 鈥� what a publicity-seeking ratbag.鈥�
Humphries had argued that his words had been 鈥済rotesquely interpreted,鈥� when speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine.
In , during an interview published in the UK鈥檚 Spectator, Humphries had been asked whether his character Dame Edna Everage had sparked any backlash from transgender activists.
Humphries, 84 at the time, called 鈥渢ransgenderism鈥� a 鈥渇ashion.鈥�
鈥淗ow many different kinds of lavatory can you have? And it’s pretty evil when it’s preached to children by crazy teachers,鈥� he said.
Humphries response to a statistic that stated 鈥渕ore than 40 per cent of trans men and women have attempted or considered suicide,鈥� and activists hope to have transphobia 鈥渢reated in law as a form of assault鈥� as 鈥渢errible ratbaggery.鈥�
Barry Award Renamed In Response To His Transphobic Comments
In 2019, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival dropped his name from its major prize, the due to his divisive comments about transgender folks.
It has now since been changed to the Melbourne International Comedy Award.
Humphries, who had been married four times, is survived by his four children and wife of 24 years, Elizabeth Spender.
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Well, Andrew, I’ve had cancer twice & living in robust health. I find that joke very funny. Have you had cancer? Lighten up!
Tracy, the first and simplest rule of comedy, particularly satire, is “punch upwards” – pick on the powerful and not on the already marginalised.
Comedians make jokes about many controversial issues. I’ve heard far worse than jokes about cancer or trans gender. If you are going to listen or watch comedy then toughen up or go watch something more to your liking. Please stop deciding what is comedy & not. It’s the age old argument about art. Humans are continually being offended by art.
Well I question the comments of the dame edna character making a joke of husband Norman being home resting with his prostate in the freezer
I can鈥檛 respect anyone who makes cancer jokes