The legendary entertainer who embodied some of Australia’s most loved characters died on Saturday at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.
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Barry Humphries dead at 89
By Ben Cubby
Good morning, I’m Ben Cubby, and thank you for joining our live coverage of the death of Barry Humphries today.
Humphries, the comedian who created Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, died on Saturday aged 89 in Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, after a series of health problems.
Barry Humphries has been remembered after his death at the age of 89.Credit: James Brickwood
“He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit,” his family said in a statement.
The master satirist has been remembered in a flood of tributes from around the world from writers, comedians and political leaders.
Read Andrew Hornery’s report on the death of an Australian legend here.
King Charles shares grief with Humphries’ family
By Rob Harris
King Charles III, a decades-long friend of Barry Humphries and fan of his comedic characters including Sandy Stone and Sir Les Patterson, will contact the late Australian entertainer’s family to share his grief.
The Palace said on Saturday UK time said the monarch – who was famously left in hysterics when Dame Edna infiltrated the royal box during the 2013 Royal Variety Performance – was “saddened” by the news.
“His Majesty is writing privately to Mr Humphries’ family as we speak,” a spokeswoman said.
Humphries shared strong relations with the Palace over many decades, including several famed appearances at concerts and major royal events.
Charles’ former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, expressed her sadness for the loss of “dearest Barry”.
“Thank you dearest Barry for giving my father so much kindness and [from] all my family — we will miss your amazing brilliance,” he posted on social media.
Her father, Major Ronald Ivor Ferguson was a polo manager, initially to the Duke of Edinburgh and later, for many years, to then Charles, Prince of Wales.
How news broke around the world
By Ben Cubby
Here’s a collection of front pages from Australia and Britain:
Humphries had the chat show down to a fine art
By Ben Cubby
Humphries’ quick wit and ability to ad lib was legendary, especially in talk-show format of which he was master.
People on social media are sharing clips of moments that encapsulate the star’s ability to hold the spotlight even in the most illustrious company.
Bionic Bazza: Humphries spoke of his surgery
By Ben Cubby
Humphries spoke candidly to Andrew Hornery last month about his treatment at an eastern suburbs clinic following a fall and hip replacement surgery. Humphries joked about how the arrival of his titanium hip meant he could now be referred to as Bionic Bazza.
It was the most ridiculous thing, like all domestic incidents are. I was reaching for a book, my foot got caught on a rug or something, and down I went.
It wasn’t the first time Humphries had sustained serious injury – he once broke his arm after slipping down a cliff in Cornwall, England, and was airlifted to safety in a navy helicopter.
Humphries in Sydney.Credit: Quentin Jones
Read Hornery’s Private Sydney column here.
‘The brightest star’
By Ben Cubby
Humphries was equally at home in England and Australia – yet always askance about both – and was never entirely absent from the limelight and continued to delight audiences until his dying breath, writes Mark McGinness.
Barry Humphries was simply the most original, outrageous, enduring entertainer in Australia’s history. Author, actor, actress, librettist, poet, singer, commentator, interviewer, bibliophile, painter, dandy, iconoclast. The characters he has brought to full-blooded life cannot be equalled in their ability to enlighten, amuse, abuse.
Barry Humphries.Credit: James Brickwood, John Lamb.
Humphries’ obituary is here.
A life in pictures
By Ben Cubby
Humphries’ astonishing charisma and stage presence was captured by photographers over a career that spanned six decades.
Comedian, satirist, performer. His genius was sending people up.Credit: Julian Kingma
“One of the greatest civilised comedians to have ever lived,” Monty Python’s Eric Idle said in Saturday. “A kind, brilliant, warm, witty, intelligent human being. I shall miss him.”
See the photo gallery of Humphries’ many personnas here.
Tributes from around the world
By Ben Cubby
A flood of tributes for Barry Humphries’ life and vast body of work from around the world has dubbed him “one of the greatest ever Australians”.
Among those to pay tribute was lifelong friend, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, former British prime minister Boris Johnson, talk show legend Sir Michael Parkinson and Eric Idle, part of the famous Monty Python comedy troupe, writes Rob Harris.
Read more here.
Prime Minister leads tributes
By Ben Cubby
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led a torrent of Australian tributes to Humphries, writes Karl Quinn.
Leaders on both sides of politics have praised Barry Humphries.Credit: Robert Pearce
“For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone, but the brightest star in that galaxy was always Barry,” the prime minister wrote on social media.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton wrote: “Australia has lost its finest cultural raconteur, its most brilliant satirist, and its greatest cultural comedian with the passing of the witty and wonderful Barry Humphries AO CBE.”
Read the full story here.
Barry Humphries dead at 89
By Ben Cubby
Good morning, I’m Ben Cubby, and thank you for joining our live coverage of the death of Barry Humphries today.
Humphries, the comedian who created Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, died on Saturday aged 89 in Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, after a series of health problems.
Barry Humphries has been remembered after his death at the age of 89.Credit: James Brickwood
“He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit,” his family said in a statement.
The master satirist has been remembered in a flood of tributes from around the world from writers, comedians and political leaders.
Read Andrew Hornery’s report on the death of an Australian legend here.
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Source: smh.com.au
