Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries (17 February 1934-) is an Australian comedian best known for his characters Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife, and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed Cultural Attache to Britain.

Barry Humphries was born in Melbourne. After school and the University of Melbourne he joined the Melbourne Theatre Group, and created the character of Edna Everage in 1956. In the early sixties he moved to London and appeared in several West End productions. He first brought Mrs. Everage to the British stage in 1969 for his one-man show "Just a Show".

Humphries' characters, especially Dame Edna, have made him a national figure, with numerous stage and television shows.

He was given the Order of Australia in 1982, and an Honorary Doctorate of Griffith University (Australia) in 1994. He is married to Lizzie Spender, the daughter of Sir Stephen Spender, and has two sons and two daughters.

External links

• Official Australian Cultural Site on Humphries