As Barry Humphries passes away, a look at the comedian behind Dame Edna Everage and his connection to royalty

Without question, it is impossible to think of Barry Humphries without thinking of his creations Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. His family said the following in a statement: “He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit.” The statement went on to say that “He was also a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a friend and confidant to many. His passing leaves a void in so many lives. The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on.”

According to The Guardian, it was “In 1955, while on a tour bus driving around rural Victoria in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Twelfth Night, he began to develop a character that would dominate his whole career: Edna Everage. With her lavender bouffant and winged glasses, the sharp-tongued housewife was a parody of the priggish streak Humprhies saw in his parents’ generation, particularly his mother.”

Barry Humphries had a fall in February and was hospitalised in Sydney recently after he suffered complications following hip surgery. Tributes have begun coming in for the comedian and the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift.”

Barry Humphries was married four times, and has four children. He leaves behind his fourth wife, Lizzie Spender, who he had been married to for over 30 years. 

The late Princess Diana met Barry Humphries’ alter ego, Dame Edna Everage backstage at the Queen’s Jubilee concert at the London Palladium in 1987. He also met the late Queen Elizabeth 11 when he was co-host of the Party at the Palace concert to mark the Queen’s 50th Jubilee in 2002.