Australian entertainer Barry Humphries has died at the age of 89, a spokesman for the hospital where he was being treated has confirmed. During a seven-decade career, the stage and screen veteran entertained generations with satirical characters including Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.
Humphries died on Saturday evening, according to David Faktor, a spokesman for St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. He told the PA news agency: “I can confirm Barry Humphries passed away this evening Sydney time, around 7pm on Saturday evening.”
Humphries had been readmitted to St Vincent’s after suffering complications following hip surgery last month. A family statement issued to the Sydney Morning Herald thanked fans and hospital staff for their “support and good wishes”.
Humphries became a staple of the British comedy circuit after moving from Australia to London in 1959 and appearing in West End shows such as Maggie May and Oliver! He was among the leading members of the British comedy scene, alongside Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Spike Milligan.
As well as Dame Edna Everage, he also appeared as the lecherous Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone, an elderly, childless man living in the suburbs.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Barry, describing him as “the brightest star” in “a galaxy of personas”.
He said: “For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone,” Mr Albanese tweeted. 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.”
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Comedian Matt Lucas has described him as “quite simply the greatest” as he paid tribute to the Australian entertainer after his death.
“I wonder if all geniuses are as lovely as Barry Humphries,” Lucas tweeted, sharing a picture of them together. “Thank you for delighting and inspiring us. Quite simply, you were the greatest.”
Broadcaster Andrew Neil has said he visited Barry in hospital two weeks ago when his “spirits and wit were as acute as ever”.
“So sad to learn Barry Humphries has passed away,” he tweeted. “When I visited him in his Sydney hospital two weeks ago he was ailing from several health problems.
“But his spirits and wit were as acute as ever. We laughed away as the stories poured out. Funny, hugely literate, fiercely mart. I count myself lucky and privileged I got to see him one more time. A comic genius the likes of which we will never see again.”
Broadcaster Piers Morgan has said Barry was “as hilarious in private as he was as the iconic Dame Edna”.
“RIP Barry Humphries, 89. One of the funniest people I’ve ever met,” he tweeted. “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.”
Australian actor Jason Donovan has said Barry was “quite simply an entertaining genius”. He tweeted: “Australia has lost one of its greatest!
“Funny, literate and fiercely intelligent, Barry Humphries was quite simply an entertaining genius. The characters he created brought laughter to millions… My thoughts are with family on this sad day!”
Comedians Ricky Gervais and Rory Bremner have said Barry was a “comedy genius” and an “all-time great”.
“Farewell, Barry Humphries, you Comedy genius,” Gervais tweeted. Also posting on Twitter, Bremner said: “Heavens. With the passing of #barryhumphries we lose an all-time great.
“Lightning quick, subversive, mischievous, widely read,deeply knowledgeable about art, music & literature- & savagely funny. Dame Edna arguably the greatest comic persona ever. Les Patterson too. True genius.”
