Barry Humphreys: Comic Edna Everage dies at 89
- By Paul Glenn, leisure reporter, and Antoinette Radford
- BBC Information
Watch: Girl Edna’s Funniest Moments in 60 Seconds
Australian entertainer Barry Humphreys, greatest recognized for his comedian character Dame Edna Everage, has died on the age of 89.
The star was in hospital in Sydney after struggling issues following hip surgical procedure in March. He had a fall in February.
Humphreys’ most well-known creation turned an enormous hit within the UK within the Nineteen Seventies, and he received her personal TV chat present, Dame Edna Everage Expertise, within the late Eighties.
Amongst his different characters is lecherous drunkard Sir Les Patterson.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Humphreys as information of his dying unfold.
“He was witty and sarcastic and a author and distinctive, and he was gifted and gifted on the identical time.” Mr. Albanese stated.
In an announcement, his household remembered him as being “precisely himself to the top, by no means dropping his sensible thoughts, distinctive intelligence and generosity of spirit.”
They stated Humphreys’ followers have been “treasured to him”, and stated his characters, “which have introduced laughter to thousands and thousands, will stay on”.
picture supply, Getty Pictures
Melbourne-born Humphreys moved to London in 1959, showing in West Finish reveals equivalent to Maggie Might and Oliver!
Impressed by the avant-garde Dada artwork motion, he turned a outstanding determine on the British comedy scene together with contemporaries equivalent to Alan Bennett, Dudley Moore and Spike Milligan.
Journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil stated he had visited Humphreys in hospital two weeks earlier: “His spirits and his wit have been as sharp as ever,” he stated.
“I take into account myself lucky and privileged to have been in a position to see him once more.”
Welsh comic and actor Rob Brydon stated Humphreys was “a very nice one who impressed me past measure” and stated it was “a pleasure to name him my good friend”.
“Hello opossum!”
Girl Edna first appeared within the Nineteen Fifties when he was residing in Australia, as a parody of Suburban Housewives – primarily based on his mom.
She turned extra outrageous because the years glided by, and was recognized for her violet-stained hair, sparkly glasses and catchphrase: “Hello opossum!”
picture supply, Getty Pictures
Humphreys appeared as Girl Edna on stage, on display screen and in print all through his lengthy profession
Humphreys even wrote his autobiography, My Great Life, because the character.
Amongst his different well-known characters on stage and display screen, essentially the most is Sandy Stone’s grandfather.
He stated of Stone in 2016 that he may “lastly really feel like I’m turning into him”.
picture supply, Getty Pictures
He additionally voiced Bruce the Shark within the 2003 Pixar animated movie Discovering Nemo
The comic, writer, director and screenwriter, who can also be an avid panorama painter, introduced a farewell tour of his satirical one-man present in 2012. However he returned final 12 months with a sequence of reveals that look again at his profession.
His different credit included voicing Bruce the Shark within the 2003 Pixar animated movie Discovering Nemo, in addition to appearances within the 1967 comedies Bedazzled, Spice World, The Hobbit, and Completely Fabulous: The Film.
He was married 4 instances and left behind his spouse, Lizzie Spender, and 4 kids.
