Photo: WTCA / CC BY 2.5 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
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
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- comedian / screenwriter / film actor / painter / television actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- 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. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Barry Humphries born?
February 17, 1934 – April 22, 2023.
Where is Barry Humphries from?
Barry Humphries is from Kew, Australia.
What does Barry Humphries do?
Barry Humphries works as comedian, screenwriter, film actor, painter, television actor.
Comedian — see all → · Screenwriter — see all → · More people from Australia →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.