Taking leave
Australian comedian Barry Humphries has died
Australian actor Barry Humphries in his signature role as Dame Edna. photo
© Rob Griffith/AP
He was best known for his iconic fictional character, Dame Edna Everage, a stuffy, garish housewife with purple hair and oversized, sparkling glasses. The comedian passed away at the age of 89.
Australian comedian Barry Humphries is dead. He died at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney on Saturday night (local time) at the age of 89, a hospital spokesman confirmed to the PA news agency. The entertainer had been treated there after complications from hip surgery.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper and other Australian media, his family wrote in a statement that Humphries had remained true to himself to the end. He never lost his brilliant mind and unique wit.
The character actor has slipped into numerous satirical roles over the course of his career, which has spanned around seven decades. He was best known for his iconic fictional character, Dame Edna Everage, a stuffy, garish housewife with purple hair and oversized, sparkling glasses.
Humphries entertained people with “a galaxy of personalities,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Twitter. However, the brightest star in this galaxy was always Humphries himself. Australian actor Jason Donovan tweeted: “Australia has lost one of its greatest!”
Albanese on Twitter Sydney Morning Herald 9News Donovan on Twitter