Dame Edna Everage Satirist Barry Humphries Dead at 89
Barry Humphries, the Australian-born comedian, actor and satirist who was best known for his TV Drag persona, Dame Edna Everage, has died. He was 89 years old.
The news of his death was confirmed in a tweet by Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who called Humphries “the brightest star” in the galaxy of his great characters.
Humphries embodied Dame Edna for nearly seven decades in numerous TV series and specials in the United States, Australia, Britain and beyond. In the U.S., the character starred in her own mock talk show, Dame Edna’s Hollywood. The NBC series’ three episodes spanned from 1991-1993. She appeared in other TV series including Dame Edna’s Neighborhood Watch, Saturday Night Live, Ally McBeal and The Life and Death of Sandy Stone.
Humphries’ Dame Edna was so ubiquitous that she appeared as a guest on numerous daytime and late night talk shows. She appeared in six episodes of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno from 2001-11 and visited The View in 2004 and 2010. In 2005, she appeared on Live With Regis and Kelly and The Tony Danza Show. Three years later she was a guest on The Graham Norton Show and in 2009, she visited The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.
In addition to Dame Edna, Humphris was known for playing Sir Les Patterson, a man who served as Dame Edna’s opposite.
That is so sad. She truly was an icon. Rest in Peace. I loved Neighbourhood Watch.
I had just read that Humphries was just going to be a part of the latest series of Australian “Who Do You Think You Are?” this year.
Am I allowed to read this page from Tennesee?
I loved Dame Edna so much. Fly your gladiolus at half-mast today!
I loved Dame Edna!! Barry was a wonderful man who loved to have a laugh and be outrageous. Today I’ll have to dress a bit flashy in his honor!
Brilliant, hilarious comic creator. A loss, for sure.
RIP Dame Edna. Your talents will be missed, possum.
He was a treasure and always hilarious. Saw him in San Francisco and he put on a great show.
Brilliant comedian. Rest in peace.
He was not an ally. He used drag for entertainment while scorning gender affirmation. RIP you were of a way different generation.
Saw “edna” about 20 years ago and I was sore from laughing. It was brilliant work, operating on so many levels.
Very sad news for all possums. His Dame Edna character was one of the greatest for delivering laughs. Even with just a well timed facial expression. Darn.
Dispute being a drag performer, the guy is like JK Rowling, a big Transphobic. People should know!
To this Australian, Edna, and Barry’s other amazing personalities were a part of the fabric of this country for the past 50 or more years. I had the pleasure of seeing Barry’s show a couple of times, and he had a comic timing only bettered by Robin Williams. This country is truly lessened by the loss of this housewife from Moonee Ponds. Farewell, possum.
He was a funny gal
RIP