Humphries, Barry (1934-2023), was an Australian writer, actor, and satirist. He was best known for his comic one-man shows, especially in the role of Dame Edna Everage, an outspoken Australian housewife. Humphries also created the characters of Sir Les Patterson, a beer-drinking Australian cultural attache (diplomatic official); and Barry McKenzie, a simple-natured Australian abroad. Humphries played the Goblin King in the motion picture The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012).
John Barry Humphries was born on Feb. 17, 1934, in Melbourne, in the Australian state of Victoria. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and Melbourne University. He began acting on the stage in Melbourne in 1953 and made his stage debut in London in 1959. Humphries presented his first one-man show in 1962. He introduced the character of Edna Everage in 1976. Humphries wrote many books, several based on the characters he created on stage. He also wrote an autobiography, More Please (1992).
Humphries died on April 22, 2023. In June, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. Appointment to the order is Australia’s highest award for service to the country or to humanity.
