Barry Humphries was an Australian comedian, actor, author, satirist and drag artist best known for writing and playing his stage and television character Dame Edna Everage, a flamboyant and hilarious caricature of an Australian housewife, which he performed for over five decades. Humphries began his extraordinary career on the back of an arts council bus touring the country towns of Victoria in 1954. He gained national attention in Australia in the 1960s with his satirical shows, which poked fun... moreBarry Humphries was an Australian comedian, actor, author, satirist and drag artist best known for writing and playing his stage and television character Dame Edna Everage, a flamboyant and hilarious caricature of an Australian housewife, which he performed for over five decades. Humphries began his extraordinary career on the back of an arts council bus touring the country towns of Victoria in 1954. He gained national attention in Australia in the 1960s with his satirical shows, which poked fun at politicians and celebrities. Humphries also created other memorable characters, such as "Sir Les Patterson," and the aging British cultural attache "Sandy Stone" which earned him international fame. In addition to his comedic work, Humphries was also a respected author, with several books to his name, including his autobiography My Life As Me, and Handling Edna, a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of his most famous character. Throughout his career, Humphries won numerous awards for his contributions to the entertainment industry, including an Order of Australia in 1982, and a Commander of the British Empire in 2007. He also won a Special Tony Award for a Live Theatrical Event in 2000 and won two National Broadway Theatre Awards for "Best Play" and for "Best Actor" in 2001.
