Dame Edna Everage star Barry Humphries dead at 89
Barry Humphries, who created the beloved drag character Dame Edna Everage, has passed away at 89 years old. The shocking news was confirmed on 22 April by the Australian comedian’s family in a statement. “He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit,” they said. “With over 70s years on the stage, he was an entertainer to his core, touring up until the last year of his life and planning more shows that will sadly never be. “His audiences were precious to him, and he never took them for granted… The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on.” Days before his passing, Humphries was admitted to the hospital to “receive treatment” after suffering complications from his hip replacement surgery in March, per CNN.
Since the 1950s, the 89-year-old ruled the comedy sphere with his popular roster of fictional characters, including Dame Edna.
Across five decades, Humphries’ and his drag persona appeared in numerous films, TV shows, and stage plays – resulting in him earning prestigious accolades like a Special Tony Award, an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
However, despite his monumental impact on pop culture and the arts, the comedian’s career has also been marred with controversy due to his numerous transphobic statements.
