Barry Humphries: Entertainer’s life celebrated at Sydney Opera House state memorial

By Tiffanie Turnbull and Phil MercerBBC News, Sydney

Barry Humphries found fame for his comic Australian personas

Hundreds of people have gathered to celebrate the life of Barry Humphries – the man behind Dame Edna Everage – at a Sydney Opera House state memorial.

The 89-year-old died in April of complications from hip surgery.

Over seven decades, the Australian entertainer built a global reputation as one of the greatest raconteurs and comedians of his age.

Among those who sent tributes were King Charles, Sir Elton John and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In a message read out at the service, the King said “no-one was safe” from the wit of Humphries, who elicited both “fear and fun” in his subjects.

“Barry Humphries, through his creations, poked and prodded us, exposed pretensions, punctured pomposity, surfaced insecurities, but most of all, made us laugh at ourselves,” he wrote.

“Like so many, I have been deeply saddened by his passing. Life really won’t be the same without him.”

Mr Albanese said the performer was a “comedy giant”, while Sir Elton remembered him as a great friend.

“Barry Humphries was one of the funniest people in the world… but he was also one of the kindest and most generous [people] to me,” Sir Elton said in a video message.

Fans too turned out in droves, celebrating with laughs, tears and champagne. They spoke of how in Humphries and his creations, they caught glimpses of themselves.

One woman who had travelled in from out of town likened the performer to the late Queen. “He’s an icon… I’m so sad he’s gone,” she told the BBC, decked out in a pair of Edna’s flamboyant glasses.

“He captured who were and took us to the world,” another man said.

Born in Melbourne in 1934, Humphries began inventing fictional characters from an early age.

He acted in the Australian theatre, but it was after moving to London in 1959 that he exploded onto the international art scene.

A gifted creative, he dabbled as a writer, painter, and scholar, but it was his comic caricatures – which played on Australian stereotypes – that brought him adoration.

There was the lecherous drunk Sir Les Patterson and the charmingly boring Sandy Stone, but no persona was as beloved as the shrill-toned and sequined Dame Edna Everage.

First debuted in 1955, she became more outrageous as the years went on, and was famed for her lilac-rinsed hair, flamboyant glasses and catchphrase: “Hello possums!”

His other credits included voicing shark Bruce in the 2003 animated film Finding Nemo, and appearances in films such as Bedazzled, Spice World, The Hobbit and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.

Humphries has been recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and Commander of the British Empire (CBE), and has also been awarded several honorary doctorates from Australian universities.

But his career was not without controversy, and in his later years he drew criticism for comments about transgender people, sexual harassment, and people of colour.

He was married four times and is survived by his wife Lizzie Spender and four children.

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