Dame Edna star Barry Humphries has died aged 89

22 April, 2023

Australian comic legend and the creator of Dame Edna Everage, Barry Humphries, has reportedly died aged 89.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Humphries passed away earlier today (April 22) at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital where he was being treated for various health issues.

Humphries was admitted to hospital back February after falling in his Sydney apartment and injuring his hip.  He received a hip replacement shortly afterwards.

“I have to get back on my feet,” he said in an interview shortly after the operation. “I’m going back on tour later this year. The result of my broken hip means I now have a titanium hip. You can call me Bionic Bazza.”

However, earlier this week it was reported Humphries was readmitted to hospital, following complications from the surgery.

The Australian comedian’s most famous creation was Dame Edna Everage, who became a hit in the UK in the 1970s and was used by Humphries to satirise the cult of celebrity, class snobbery, and prudishness as well as poking fun at political leaders and fashion.

Dame Edna went on to host her own TV show The Dame Edna Everage Experience in the late 1980s and wrote several books.

As well as playing Dame Edna and lecherous drunk cultural attaché Sir Les Patterson, Humphries voiced Bruce the shark in the film Finding Nemo and appeared in Spice World, The Hobbit and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.

Following Humphries’ passing, fans have taken to Twitter to share choice moments from his 50-year career including the time Dame Edna walked into the Royal Box during The Royal Variety Performance and the time Humphries mixed Dermot O’Leary up with Philip Scofield on This Morning.

 

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