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.
Acted in 72
2020s
- 2021
Parkinson at 50
Dame Edna Everage (archive footage)
Show of Titles
"Anyone Can Whistle" Performer
2010s
- 2019
Dame Edna Rules The Waves
Dame Edna Everidge
- 2016
A Granny's Guide to the Modern World
TV
- 2015
- 2014
Jack Irish: Dead Point
Justice Logan
- 2013
The Great Comic Relief Bake Off
Contestant (Dame Edna Everage) · 1 episode
- 2012
2000s
- 2009
Salvation
Client
- 2008
Gaybo Laughs Back
Dame Edna
- 2007
Little Britain Down Under
Dame Edna Everage
The Dame Edna Treatment
TV
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
Barry Humphries Presents Back to My Roots and Other Suckers
Sir Les Patterson/Owen Steele/Sandy Stone/Dame Edna Everage
- 2002
1990s
- 1998
- 1997
Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills
Bert / Lady Shopper / Manager
Sir Les And The Great Chinese Takeaway
Les Patterson/Dame Edna
- 1996
Les Patterson 'Has A Stand Up' - Live & Rampant
Les Patterson
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
The Team: A Season With McLaren
Dame Edna Everage · 1 episode
Selling Hitler
Rupert Murdoch
- 1992
Joan Rivers: Abroad in London
Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch
Dame Edna · 12 episodes
- 1991
A Late Lunch With Sir Les
Les Patterson
Dame Edna's Hollywood
Dame Edna Everage · 3 episodes
- 1990
An Audience with Jackie Mason
Movie
A Night on Mount Edna
Dame Edna Everage
1980s
- 1988
One More Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna Everage
- 1987
The Dame Edna Experience
TV
Les Patterson Saves the World
Sir Les Patterson / Dame Edna Everage
- 1986
An Aussie Audience with Dame Edna
Dame Edna Everage / Sir Les Patterson / Self
- 1984
Another Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna/Les Patterson
Royal Variety Performance 1984
Movie
Dr. Fischer of Geneva
Richard Deane
- 1981
Shock Treatment
Bert Schnick
The Rocky Horror Treatment
(archive footage)
A Toast to Melbourne
Movie
- 1980
An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna
1970s
- 1979
- 1978
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Our Guests at Heartland
- 1977
The Getting of Wisdom
Rev. Strachey
- 1976
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
Edna Everage
- 1975
The Great MacArthy
Col Ball-Miller
Side by Side
Rodney
- 1974
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
Aunt Edna Everage / Dr. Meyer Delamphrey / Offensive Buck-toothed Englishman / Senator Douglas Manton
Percy's Progress
Dr. Anderson / Australian TV Lady
- 1972
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie
Aunt Edna Everage / Hoot / Dr. DeLamphrey
- 1970
The Naked Bunyip
Edna Everage
1960s
- 1968
The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom
Mr. Wainwright
- 1967
Bedazzled
Envy
- 1964
- 1962
Wrote 9
2010s
- 2019
Dame Edna Rules The Waves
Writer
2000s
- 2003
Barry Humphries Presents Back to My Roots and Other Suckers
Writer
1990s
- 1997
Sir Les And The Great Chinese Takeaway
Writer
- 1996
Les Patterson 'Has A Stand Up' - Live & Rampant
Writer
1980s
- 1987
Les Patterson Saves the World
Writer
- 1986
An Aussie Audience with Dame Edna
Writer
- 1984
Another Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Writer
1970s
- 1974
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
Writer
- 1972
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie
Writer
Created 1
2010s
- 2019
Dame Edna Rules The Waves
Creator
Appearances29
2020s
- 2023
Barry Humphries: The Last Laugh
Self
Barry Humphries at the BBC
Self (archive material) / Dame Edna Everage / Sir Les Patterson
Barry Humphries - A Life of Laughs
Self (Archive)
2010s
- 2019
Magical Land of Oz
Narrator (voice) · 3 episodes
- 2015
Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show
Self
- 2014
Brilliant Creatures
Self · 2 episodes
The Last Impresario
Self
2000s
- 2009
Making Mary and Max
Self
- 2008
We Are Most Amused
Self
Not Quite Hollywood
Self
I'd Do Anything
Himself - Judge · 22 episodes
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self · 1 episode
The Man Inside Dame Edna
Self/Dame Edna/Les Patterson
- 2007
- 2006
It Started with Swap Shop
Self
- 2004
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self - Edna Everage
- 2003
Micallef Tonight
Self · 1 episode
- 2002
1990s
- 1998
- 1997
- 1995
Some Interesting Facts About Peter Cook
Self
1980s
- 1988
Barry Humphries: This is Your Lunch
Self/Dame Edna
- 1982
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self - Various Roles
1970s
- 1978
