Dame Edna Everage star Barry Humphries dies aged 89 in Australia

The stage and screen veteran has a seven-decade career which saw him entertain generations with satirical characters including Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.

David Faktor, a spokesman for St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, said Humphries died on Saturday evening.

He told the PA news agency: “I can confirm Barry Humphries passed away this evening Sydney time, around 7pm on Saturday evening (11am GMT).”

Barry Humphries was also known as his alter ego Dame Edna Everage (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

A statement from Humphries family said: “​He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit.​

“​With over ​70 years on the stage, he was an entertainer to his core, touring up until the last year of his life and planning more shows that will sadly never be.

​“​His audiences were precious to him, and he never took them for granted.

“Although he may be best remembered for his work in theatre, he was a painter, author, poet, and a collector and lover of ​a​​​​rt in all its forms.​

“He was also a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a friend and confidant to many. His passing leaves a void in so many lives.

“The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on.”

Humphries was readmitted to St Vincent’s following complications after a hip surgery last month.

Barry Humphries appeared in West End shows following a move to London

Humphries moved from Australia to London in 1959 and appeared in West End shows such as Maggie May and Oliver!.

Alongside Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Spike Milligan, he was among the leading members of the British comedy scene.

As well as Dame Edna Everage, he appeared as Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone.

Barry Humphries was made a Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to entertainment.

Tributes flood in for Barry Humphries following death

Journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil tweeted: “So sad to learn Barry Humphries has passed away.

“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.”

So sad to learn Barry Humphries has passed away. 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 smart.

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) April 22, 2023

He added in a further post: “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.”

Humphries was described as “quite simply the greatest” by comedian Matt Lucas.

Comedian Dara O Briain described Humphries as “one of the absolute funniest people ever”.

For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone.

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. pic.twitter.com/oSAKpxPGae

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 22, 2023

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese described Humphries as “the brightest star” in “a galaxy of personas”.

TV presenter Carol Vorderman also paid tribute and praised his “bright intelligence and mischief”.

Australian actor Jason Donovan posted a picture of himself as a young man posing with Humphries dressed as Dame Edna Everage, tweeting: “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.”