Barry Humphries, Who Played Dame Edna Everage, Dies at 89
, known for his onstage and TV drag persona Edna Everage and for his character Sir Les Patterson, has died. He was 89The BBC reported that Humphries had been in hospital in Sydney, Australia, and had been suffering from complications following surgery in March.
Edna Everage evolved slowly but got a big boost into the public consciousness of Australians with the release of Aussie cult films “The Adventures of Barry McKenzie” and 1974 follow-up “Barry McKenzie Holds His Own,” both directed by Bruce Beresford and written by Beresford and Humphries. In addition to the popular character of Barry McKenzie, played by Barry Crocker, the films featured Humphries playing Aunt Edna Everage among other characters.
Humphries also appeared in or did voicework for films apart from his turns in his famous personae. In 1991 he played Rupert Murdoch in the miniseries “Selling Hitler,” about the faked Hitler diaries.
From 1987-89 Humphries had his own satiric talk show on the U.K.’s ITV, “The Dame Edna Experience,” in which he occasionally appeared as Patterson. He made his screen debut in Australia on the ABC program “Wild Life and Christmas Belles” but began his TV career in earnest after moving in 1959 to London. There he became friends with some of the most influential figures on the British comedy scene, including Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller and Spike Milligan.
Humphries got his own, five-episode BBC show in 1970, “Barry Humphries Scandals,” in which he appeared as Mrs. Norm Everage as well as other characters.
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