Photo: WTCA / CC BY 2.5 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Barry Humphries, born on February 17, 1934 in Kew, Australia, was a comedian, screenwriter and film actor. Barry Humphries died on April 22, 2023, aged 89. Schooling on record includes University of Melbourne. Awards on record include Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2007), Officer of the Order of Australia (1982), Centenary Medal (2001) and 5 more.
My Take
Barry Humphries is one of those rare performers I admire without reservation. A University of Melbourne man who turned satire into high art, he made Dame Edna and Sir Les Patterson into globally beloved monsters of comedy while quietly painting and writing on the side. The honours pile up, from a Commander of the British Empire to Companion of the Order of Australia, but what moves me is that he stayed sharp and beloved right up to his death in 2023. Few comedians manage to be both wickedly cruel and genuinely elegant. Humphries did, and he made a whole career of it look effortless.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Barry Humphries
- Name (Japanese)
- バリー・ハンフリーズ
- Reading
- ばりー・はんふりーず
- Born
- February 17, 1934 – April 22, 2023
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Dog
- Origin
- Kew, Australia
- Occupation
- comedian / screenwriter / film actor / painter / television actor
2. Background
- University
- University of Melbourne
Awards & achievements
- 2007 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1982 Officer of the Order of Australia
- 2001 Centenary Medal
- 2000 Theatre World Special Award
- 2009 James Joyce Awards
- Australian National Living Treasure
- Ackerley Prize
- 2023 Companion of the Order of Australia
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Barry Humphries born?
Born February 17, 1934.
When did Barry Humphries die?
Died April 22, 2023, aged 89.
Where was Barry Humphries from?
Barry Humphries was from Kew, Australia.
What did Barry Humphries do?
Barry Humphries worked as comedian, screenwriter, film actor, painter, television actor.
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