R.I.P. Barry “Dame Edna” Humphries
Humphries played iconic "Housewife and Gigastar' Dame Edna for more than 60 years
Aux News Humphries![R.I.P. Barry “Dame Edna” Humphries](https://img.pastemagazine.com/wp-content/avuploads/2023/04/14234231/7765c60bdd11f18ac39dc373572d2490.jpg)
Barry Humphries has died. A veteran Australian comedian and actor, Humphries was probably best known for the six decades he spent playing the character of Dame Edna Everage, who began as a joking portrayal of Australian housewives before steadily evolving into a glamorous send-up of showbiz elites. Both in and out of character, Humphries was a prolific performer on the stage, in film, on television, and in bookstores; even discounting his Dame Edna roles, his credits include Peter Jackson’s Hobbit films, Pixar’s Finding Nemo, and many more. Per Variety, Humphries died this week, after suffering complications from a recent surgery. He was 89.
Born in Melbourne in the 1930s, Humphries got his start on the Australian stage, where he first debuted Dame Edna (then credited as Mrs. Norm Everage) in a Melbourne University sketch show in 1955. In 1959, Humphries moved to London, where he made friends with the likes of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (who gave him his first role, a cameo as “Envy” in their 1967 movie Bedazzled). While writing for Cook’s Private Eye magazine, Humphries continued to work in the London theater, eventually refining the Edna character (she picked up the “Dame” title in 1972's Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, centered on another of Humphries’ characters), adding in various touches like her distinctive eyeglasses and an increasingly sharp and satirical worldview.
Humphries’ career skyrocketed in the 1970s and 1980s, as Dame Edna became a sensation on both sides of the pond, helped by a series of talk show appearances in which Humphries displayed his talent with a quick verbal rejoinder while remaining firmly in character. Although he appeared, in and out of character, in a number of films—including infamous flops like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Rocky Horror Picture Show sequel Shock Treatment—Humphries’ truest passion remained his one-person stage shows, in which he played multiple character, with Dame Edna as the most prominent. By the 2000s, the character had achieved rare iconic status, appearing in a Tony-winning Broadway run, popping up on shows like Ally McBeal (playing a character with “Dame Edna” as the credited performer), and even getting a run of Australian stamps.
Humphries retired from regular performances in the 2010s, although he was still willing to bring Edna out from time to time. His reputation was tarnished in more recent years, though, by transphobic comments, including calling trans identity “a fashion.”
Humphries died earlier today. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, and four children.
23 Comments
i just found out he was “envy” in the original “bedazzled” & went to youtube for a clip – never recognized him! don’t know if dame edna had trouble with trans folk, hope not – she was a delight.
HE was a delight. His name was Barry Humphries. Dame Edna was a character. Do not misgender him.
congrats, you entirely missed the point!
This entire exchange is hilarious, though possibly unintentionally.
His reputation was tarnished in more recent years, though, by transphobic comments, including calling trans identity “a fashion.”Nah, I don’t think ist was, at least not by circa 99% of the population.
A camp comedy icon, a reference on The Simpsons, and a Goblin King in a Hobbit. Humphries did it all! Rest well, mate.
Marvel at a genius at work
I’m a big fan of Sir Les Patterson, personally.
Best fucken minister to ever hold the Yarts and Inland Drainage And Rodent Control portfolios, in my opinion.
No LGB without the T
nope. so much L and G and B–none of which has anything to do with T. Totally different things which the T have co-opted and now are trying to destroy.
Fuck off, Barry.
Oh FFS
The T can fuck off.
Greys have been flagged and dismissed. WTF is wrong with you c”nts?
Both sides of the pond. Do you see what I did there, Bond? VERY British.
The sun would never set on you, sir . . .
Hyde Park bound in a hansom . . .
This is a sad day. The man was extraordinary. I saw Dame Edna several times, and once she chose my best friend to play Norm in a brief family drama. We met and spoke backstage a couple of times, too. A once in a generation mind!
A worthless bigot. Nothing to mourn, much to celebrate. Rest in piss you worthless cunt.
I wonder if Humphries ever played in Tennessee. Could use his voice right now, being charming and funny and telling bigots to STFU.
Despite how he made his living, Humphries was not aligned with the LGBT community.
To be honest, and contrary to the views of many of my fellow Aussies, I never got that much out of Humphries in general or Dame Edna in particular. Found his schtick pretty one-note. And of course he then revealed himself as a transphobe, so that was just one more reason to ignore him.