Australian comic Barry Humphries, whose “Dame Edna Everage” alter ego left audiences in stitches, died aged 89 in a Sydney hospital on Saturday.
Humphries, finest identified for his impersonation of a suburban housewife within the guise of Everage, “handed away peacefully” surrounded by household, mentioned a press release by his publicist to Australian media.
“He was utterly himself till the very finish, by no means shedding his sensible thoughts, his distinctive wit and generosity of spirit,” it mentioned.
“With over seventy years on the stage, he was an entertainer to his core, touring up till the final 12 months of his life and planning extra exhibits that may sadly by no means be.”
He leaves his spouse Lizzie, 4 kids and 10 grandchildren, it mentioned.
“The characters he created, which introduced laughter to thousands and thousands, will dwell on.”
Humphries died in Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital after being handled for numerous illnesses, Australian media mentioned. The hospital declined to remark.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid homage to the actor, whose unforgettable characters included Everage, the lecherous and boorish Sir Les Patterson, and the uninteresting, aged man of the suburbs Sandy Stone.
– ‘Brightest star’ –
“Barry Humphries entertained us by means of a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone,” the prime minister mentioned on social media.
“However the brightest star in that galaxy was all the time Barry. An important wit, satirist, author and an absolute one-of-kind, he was each gifted and a present. Might he relaxation in peace.”
Humphries was taken to hospital in February after falling and hurting his hip at residence, requiring a hip substitute, the Sydney Morning Herald mentioned.
“I’ve to get again on my toes… I’m going again on tour later this 12 months,” he was quoted as telling the paper final month.
His turns as Everage and Patterson noticed him obtain worldwide renown, significantly in Britain the place he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2007 for companies to leisure.
Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson referred to as Humphries “one of many biggest ever Australians” and “a comic book genius who used his exuberant alter egos, Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, to say the in any other case unsayable.
“What a loss,” he tweeted.
UK comedian large Ricky Gervais tweeted “farewell, Barry Humphries, you comedy genius”. “Little Britain” actor and comedian Matt Lucas wrote: “I ponder if all geniuses are as beautiful as Barry Humphries.”
– ‘Hey Possums’ –
Everage was first conceived when Humphries toured southern Australia as a younger actor within the Nineteen Fifties and she or he advanced from drab housewife to a self-proclaimed “gigastar” parody of movie star finest identified for her catchphrase “Hey Possums”.
She went on to host her personal Nineteen Eighties speak present, “The Dame Edna Expertise”, which attracted an array of luminaries together with Mel Gibson, the late Sean Connery, Charlton Heston, and Chubby Checker.
Her Nineteen Nineties speak exhibits, “Dr Dame Edna Kisses It Higher” and “The Dame Edna Remedy”, have been simply as star-studded, with company starting from actors Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen to the late cricketer Shane Warne.
Everage additionally starred within the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Video games, held in her residence city of Melbourne.
The coarse and vulgar Patterson got here later, first showing in a Humphries stage present in 1974 and evolving right into a caricature of Australian diplomats overseas at a efficiency in Hong Kong.
Greatest identified for his offensive behaviour, which included belching, flatulence and nose-picking, the buck-toothed, grubby “late cultural attache to the Court docket of St James” additionally gained a faithful following.
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Initially revealed as ‘Dame Edna Everage’ comic Barry Humphries dies
