Australian actor and comedian Barry Humphries, who created iconic characters such as Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, has died aged 89.
Look back as celebrities and everyday Australians shared their memories.
Key events
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Premier honours one of the 'funniest people in the world'
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has paid tribute to Humphries, saying he took Australia's larrikin humour to the world.
"He popularised that Australian character that story that funny story that larrikin adventurism that we saw from his pretty fearless humour over the years," he said.
"My condolences to his family, we have lost a true Australian legend one of the funniest people that has ever lived, not just one of the funniest Australians but one of the funniest people in the whole world."
'Ahead of his time': Biographer remembers Humphries
The author of Barry Humphries' biography One Man Show, Anne Pender, says he was "ahead of his time" and was always asking "profound questions".
"He was really inquisitive, but he also had that sort of anarchic approach," she said. "You never knew what was next.
“It was a very, very creative and anarchic spirit of comedy, and a comedy or ordinariness as well."
Loading...Tributes pour in from far and wide
Government weighing up state funeral
The Victorian government has not yet made a decision on whether the family of Barry Humphries will be offered a state funeral for the late satirist.
Victoria’s Minister for Creative Industries, Steve Dimopoulos, said a decision about that will be made in the coming days.
“The government is in conversation with his family and I want to extend my condolences to Barry Humphries’ family and everyone who loved him at a time that is very sad for them,” he said.
“We’re in conversation with his family as to the best way to honour his legacy and his contribution to Victoria so there’ll be more information to come at an appropriate time.”
Reporting by Tim Callanan
Humphries's complicated history remembered
The grieving today over the death of Barry Humphries coincides with the final day of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival [MICF] – an event with which Humphries had a complicated history.
Humphries launched the first MICF in 1987 and for many years the award for the festival’s most outstanding comedy act was named the Barry Award in his honour.
However, the award was renamed after Humphries’s comments about transgender identity caused a stir.
MICF director, Susan Provan, said despite the difficult end to their official relationship, the festival will always fondly remember Humphries.
“Barry made an extraordinary contribution to Australian comedy, to putting Australian comedy on a global platform. He particularly made a very positive contribution to the Melbourne Comedy Festival, particularly in our early days,” she said.
“Nothing can ever detract from his great contribution as an artist. He was remarkable and that will always be with us.”
The winner of this year’s award for most outstanding show, Gillian Cosgriff, said she had enormous respect for what Humphries achieved in the world of comedy, but was saddened by comments about transgender people.
“I disagreed very strongly with a lot of his politics and I felt it was a shame that, towards the end of his life, he suddenly lost the ability to read the room,” she said.
Reporting by Tim Callanan
Friends remember 'laser-like' wit
Australian television personality Steve Vizard has paid tribute to his university friend and frequent talk show guest Barry Humphries.
"He had this great capacity to touch universal themes by these almost laser-like observations," he said.
Loading...How Australian celebs are remembering Barry Humphries
Update
I once saw Barry Humphries at the bookshop in National Gallery Victoria probably a decade ago. It’s a Sunday afternoon - a beehive of activities there. Mr Humphries, unassuming and quiet, was standing against some bookshelves, quietly observing all the people milling around there. It’s interesting to see the quiet side of him in contrast to the larger than life characters he projected on stage. Vale Barry Humphries! Thanks for everything! You’re always in our hearts! William Collingwood
- William
Update
When my grandmother turned 90 she wanted to see Dame Edna on stage before she died whom she loved. I had let the theatre know to tell Dame Edna she had a lovely 90 yr old in the audience who adored her. That night as a part of the show where Dame Edna gets two people up on stage & marry’s them off …. She singles out my grandmother & a very young man for the task . As I held my breath watching my 90 yr old Nan take to the stage as if she had always been on it & literally stole the show as the house roared with laughter much to Dame Edna’s surprise she had her work cut out to rival my fiesty Nan. One of my all time favourite memories. Thank you Vale Barry Humphries
- Michelle Darlington
Update
I can remember as a grad student in London going to see The Adventures of Barry Mackenzie at a very large cinema. The audience completely divided. Australians in absolute stitches over some situations and comments. English in the others. First saw him on stage in Adelaide in the 1960s - was it at the Union Theatre - when still very much Edna Everage. Wonderful!
- John
Update
Being three score years and seven I remember well the witty satirical comedy that was emerging on the radio and then TV. Much of it BBC with the Goons and others but there was a new group popping up that was local and lampooning topics that resonated more because they were local. Barry stood tall in this group and ever since taking that razor-sharp wit across the world. His appearances on the Micheal Parkinson shows had the hoast dissolving into hysterical jelly and Barry talking directly to the audience and running the show. No script, no plan, just Barry performing off the cuff at which he was a master. Vale Barry Humphries and it is still "lovely and quiet in Highett"
- Alistair
Former neighbour remembers 'erudite' Humphries
Another former London neighbour of Barry Humphries, KC Barrister Geoffrey Robertson, told the ABC he remembers “an enormously erudite man”.
“A lot of comedians kind of rehearsed spontaneity,” Mr Robertson said.
“They spent days, weeks slaving over the script. Barry was one of those enormously talented people who are naturally funny.
“He was terrific with double entendres that came to him immediately. He was brilliant at put downs. He was terribly good at teasing celebrities, of course, in the nicest possible way, as he would always say.
“He was absolutely one of a kind. We will never see his like again.
“And he brought over 70 years more laughs, I think, to the world than any other comedian.”
'Who could forget the housewife from Moonee Ponds?'
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has penned a tribute to Barry Humphries, praising the 'boy from Kew with big dreams'.
Humphries attended Melbourne Grammar School and studied for two years at the University of Melbourne.
He also got one of his early roles as Estragon in Waiting for Godot at Melbourne's Arrow Theatre, Australia's first production of the play.
Update
Having worked with Barry, his greatness was in his humble way of working. Always very clear on what he wanted and never wanted any compromise. Truly a privilege to work this mega icon of Australia. 🙏🏼
- Chris
Update
I was in Copenhagen as a young student travelling on my own. It was early in my trip and I had reached a point where I was wondering if I was brave enough for such adventure. I suddenly noticed the hostel television screen. There was Dame Edna, also in Copenhagen, talking about the tall, beautiful Danish men and rolling her eyes as only she could.
- Victoria
Update
I can just remember Barry Humphries from my early days at Melbourne Grammar School. I was in grades one and two and Barry was in year eleven and twelve respectively. He was known as Queenie. When we all gathered for a footy match with our mortal foes from Scotch College, Barry would have his back to the game by the goal posts doing his knitting.
- Roger Oliver
Remember this moment at the 2006 Commonwealth Games?
Australia never missed an opportunity to remind the world of what an icon Dame Edna was.
This includes the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Catch the audience members about 11.30 in to this recording of the ceremony — recognise the familiar glasses and hair?
Update
In the early 60’s my girl friend and I went to his one man show in London. It may have been at the Establishment but it was before Edna became a Dame. In the show he griped about how his mother had not been properly thanked by the Brits for her effort in clarifying the lard she included in her care packages during the war. We laughed (hysterically) during this monologue (unlike the rest of the audience) so much so that he re arranged the stage furniture and directed his performance to us. As we were leaving a woman hissed at me “I fail to see how anyone can laugh at that miserable excuse for a human being”. A small note in the Daily Express covered the show. It said “Mr Humphries leads us to believe Australians can laugh at themselves, which we all know to be completely untrue”.
- Gail Shaw
Update
Yesterday I opened my phone to a news alert, I gasped, my heart sank, tears brimmed. Vale Barry Humphries, such a supreme, unique human, irreplaceable indeed.
- Susan