Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries

Acting
Born 1934-02-17 - Died 2023-04-22Camberwell, Melbourne, Australia

Biography

John Barry Humphries, AO, CBE (17 February 1934 - 22 April 2023) was an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, perhaps best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the Court of St. James's. He was a film producer and script writer, a star of London's West End musical theatre, an award-winning writer and an accomplished landscape painter. For his delivery of dadaist and absurdist humour to millions, biographer Anne Pender described Humphries in 2010 as not only the most significant theatrical figure of our time … [but] the most significant comedian to emerge since Charlie Chaplin. Humphries' characters, especially Dame Edna Everage, have brought him international renown, and he had appeared in numerous films, stage productions and television shows. Originally conceived as a dowdy Moonee Ponds housewife who caricatured Australian suburban complacency and insularity, Edna had evolved over four decades to become a satire of stardom, the gaudily dressed, acid-tongued, egomaniacal, internationally feted Housewife Gigastar, Dame Edna Everage. Humphries' other major satirical character creation was the archetypal Australian bloke Barry McKenzie, who originated as the hero of a comic strip about Australians in London (with drawings by Nicholas Garland) which was first published in Private Eye magazine. The stories about "Bazza" (Humphries' nickname, as well as an Australian term of endearment for the name Barry) gave wide circulation to Australian slang, particularly jokes about drinking and its consequences (much of which was invented by Humphries), and the character went on to feature in two Australian films, in which he was portrayed by Barry Crocker. Humphries' other satirical characters include the "priapic and inebriated cultural attaché" Sir Les Patterson, who has "continued to bring worldwide discredit upon Australian arts and culture, while contributing as much to the Australian vernacular as he has borrowed from it", gentle, grandfatherly "returned gentleman" Sandy Stone, iconoclastic 1960s underground film-maker Martin Agrippa, Paddington socialist academic Neil Singleton, sleazy trade union official Lance Boyle, high-pressure art salesman Morrie O'Connor and failed tycoon Owen Steele. Humphries died following complications from hip surgery at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on 22 April 2023.

Movies (71)

Finding Nemo
7.8

Finding Nemo

2003Movie7.8
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
7.4

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2012Movie7.4
Mary and Max
7.9

Mary and Max

2009Movie7.9
Immortal Beloved
7.1

Immortal Beloved

1994Movie7.1
Spice World
4.9

Spice World

1997Movie4.9
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
5.3

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

2016Movie5.3
Justin and the Knights of Valour
5.9

Justin and the Knights of Valour

2013Movie5.9
The Marsupials: The Howling III
4.5

The Marsupials: The Howling III

1987Movie4.5
Nicholas Nickleby
6.8

Nicholas Nickleby

2002Movie6.8
Blinky Bill the Movie
5.4

Blinky Bill the Movie

2015Movie5.4
Napoleon
6.3

Napoleon

1995Movie6.3
We Are Most Amused
7.2

We Are Most Amused

2008Movie7.2
Shock Treatment
5.9

Shock Treatment

1981Movie5.9
Bedazzled
6.2

Bedazzled

1967Movie6.2
Show of Titles

Show of Titles

2021Movie
The Last Impresario
5.5

The Last Impresario

2014Movie5.5
The Leading Man
5.0

The Leading Man

1996Movie5.0
Jack Irish: Dead Point
6.6

Jack Irish: Dead Point

2014Movie6.6
Standing Up for Sunny
5.2

Standing Up for Sunny

2019Movie5.2
Not Quite Hollywood
6.7

Not Quite Hollywood

2008Movie6.7
Kath & Kimderella
5.3

Kath & Kimderella

2012Movie5.3
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
4.3

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

1978Movie4.3
Selling Hitler
8.0

Selling Hitler

1993Movie8.0
Welcome to Woop Woop
5.8

Welcome to Woop Woop

1998Movie5.8
Peter Cook and Dudley Moore: The Missing Sketches

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore: The Missing Sketches

2016Movie
Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills
5.3

Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills

1997Movie5.3
Parkinson at 50
10.0

Parkinson at 50

2021Movie10.0
The Naked Bunyip
5.5

The Naked Bunyip

1970Movie5.5
Percy's Progress
4.0

Percy's Progress

1974Movie4.0
The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom
6.8

The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom

1968Movie6.8
A Night on Mount Edna
8.0

A Night on Mount Edna

1990Movie8.0
Les Patterson Saves the World
4.8

Les Patterson Saves the World

1987Movie4.8
Dr. Fischer of Geneva
6.1

Dr. Fischer of Geneva

1984Movie6.1
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
7.0

Pleasure at Her Majesty's

1976Movie7.0
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
6.3

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

1982Movie6.3
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie
5.3

The Adventures of Barry McKenzie

1972Movie5.3
The Man Inside Dame Edna
7.0

The Man Inside Dame Edna

2008Movie7.0
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
4.8

Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

2004Movie4.8
It Started with Swap Shop

It Started with Swap Shop

2006Movie
One More Audience with Dame Edna Everage

One More Audience with Dame Edna Everage

1988Movie
A Late Lunch With Sir Les

A Late Lunch With Sir Les

1991Movie
An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
3.8

An Audience with Dame Edna Everage

1980Movie3.8
Barry Humphries at the BBC
7.6

Barry Humphries at the BBC

2023Movie7.6
Da Kath & Kim Code
6.9

Da Kath & Kim Code

2005Movie6.9
Royal Variety Performance 1984

Royal Variety Performance 1984

1984Movie
Telling Schoolgirl Tales: The Making of 'The Getting of Wisdom’

Telling Schoolgirl Tales: The Making of 'The Getting of Wisdom’

2006Movie
The Getting of Wisdom
5.4

The Getting of Wisdom

1977Movie5.4
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
5.4

Barry McKenzie Holds His Own

1974Movie5.4
The Rocky Horror Treatment

The Rocky Horror Treatment

1981Movie
The Great MacArthy
5.2

The Great MacArthy

1975Movie5.2
Little Britain Down Under
4.0

Little Britain Down Under

2007Movie4.0
Barry Humphries Presents Back to My Roots and Other Suckers

Barry Humphries Presents Back to My Roots and Other Suckers

2003Movie
Barry Humphries - A Life of Laughs

Barry Humphries - A Life of Laughs

2023Movie
Gaybo Laughs Back

Gaybo Laughs Back

2008Movie
Side by Side
6.7

Side by Side

1975Movie6.7
Some Interesting Facts About Peter Cook
8.0

Some Interesting Facts About Peter Cook

1995Movie8.0
Another Audience with Dame Edna Everage
9.0

Another Audience with Dame Edna Everage

1984Movie9.0
Joan Rivers: Abroad in London

Joan Rivers: Abroad in London

1992Movie
A Birthday Tribute to Dame Edna Everage

A Birthday Tribute to Dame Edna Everage

1984Movie
Les Patterson 'Has A Stand Up' - Live & Rampant

Les Patterson 'Has A Stand Up' - Live & Rampant

1996Movie
Barry Humphries: The Last Laugh

Barry Humphries: The Last Laugh

2023Movie
Salvation
5.0

Salvation

2009Movie5.0
Barry Humphries: This is Your Lunch

Barry Humphries: This is Your Lunch

1988Movie
Making Mary and Max
4.0

Making Mary and Max

2009Movie4.0
An Audience with Jackie Mason
7.0

An Audience with Jackie Mason

1990Movie7.0
Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show
8.0

Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show

2015Movie8.0
A Toast to Melbourne

A Toast to Melbourne

1981Movie
Dame Edna Rules The Waves
3.5

Dame Edna Rules The Waves

2019Movie3.5
Le Bain Vorace (Dial P for Plughole)

Le Bain Vorace (Dial P for Plughole)

1954Movie
Sir Les And The Great Chinese Takeaway

Sir Les And The Great Chinese Takeaway

1997Movie
An Aussie Audience with Dame Edna

An Aussie Audience with Dame Edna

1986Movie

TV Shows (40)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Hollywood Squares
7.6

Hollywood Squares

1998Series7.6
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
The Graham Norton Show
7.2

The Graham Norton Show

2007Series7.2
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
5.4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992Series5.4
QI
7.9

QI

2003Series7.9
Wogan
5.3

Wogan

1982Series5.3
The One Show
4.4

The One Show

2006Series4.4
Omnibus
7.2

Omnibus

1967Series7.2
The Wednesday Play
5.2

The Wednesday Play

1964Series5.2
The South Bank Show
5.6

The South Bank Show

1978Series5.6
Pebble Mill
4.1

Pebble Mill

1991Series4.1
The Tony Danza Show
6.4

The Tony Danza Show

2004Series6.4
An Audience with...
5.3

An Audience with...

1978Series5.3
Q&A
3.2

Q&A

2008Series3.2
Ally McBeal
6.5

Ally McBeal

1997Series6.5
Parkinson

Parkinson

1998Series
Boulevard Bio
7.0

Boulevard Bio

1991Series7.0
RTL Samstag Nacht
7.9

RTL Samstag Nacht

1993Series7.9
The Osbournes
6.1

The Osbournes

2002Series6.1
Who Do You Think You Are?
4.4

Who Do You Think You Are?

2008Series4.4
I'd Do Anything

I'd Do Anything

2008Series
Single Voices
7.0

Single Voices

1990Series7.0
Russell Harty

Russell Harty

1980Series
The Dame Edna Experience
5.5

The Dame Edna Experience

1987Series5.5
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
7.5

Friday Night, Saturday Morning

1979Series7.5
The Great Comic Relief Bake Off

The Great Comic Relief Bake Off

2013Series
Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch
5.2

Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch

1992Series5.2
Micallef Tonight
9.5

Micallef Tonight

2003Series9.5
A Comedy Roast
6.0

A Comedy Roast

2010Series6.0
The Dame Edna Treatment
6.0

The Dame Edna Treatment

2007Series6.0
The Team: A Season With McLaren
8.0

The Team: A Season With McLaren

1993Series8.0
Magical Land of Oz
8.6

Magical Land of Oz

2019Series8.6
Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford

Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford

2010Series
Betjeman and Me

Betjeman and Me

2006Series
Dame Edna's Hollywood
4.0

Dame Edna's Hollywood

1991Series4.0
A Granny's Guide to the Modern World

A Granny's Guide to the Modern World

2016Series
Brilliant Creatures

Brilliant Creatures

2014Series