Background
His father was an affluent construction manager.
His fourth wife, Lizzie Spender, is the daughter of the poet Sir Stephen Spender.
Father of the actress Tessa Humphries, and Emily and Oscar Humphries.
Actor artist comedian satirist writer
His father was an affluent construction manager.
His fourth wife, Lizzie Spender, is the daughter of the poet Sir Stephen Spender.
Father of the actress Tessa Humphries, and Emily and Oscar Humphries.
Educated at Camberwell Grammar School, Humphries has been awarded his place in the Gallery of Achievement there.As his father's building business prospered, Humphries was sent to Melbourne Grammar School where he spurned sport, detested mathematics, shirked cadets "on the basis of conscientious objection" and matriculated with brilliant results in English and Art. Humphries himself described this schooling, in a Who's Who entry, as "self-educated, attended Melbourne Grammar School.
Humphries spent two years studying at the University of Melbourne (Queen's College), where he studied a combined degree in Laws and Arts (with a double major in Philosophy and Fine Arts).
He moved to London around 1960 and began his TV career. He has created numerous characters, including Dame Edna Everidge and Sir Les Patterson. He has created numerous characters, including Dame Edna Everidge and Sir Les Patterson.
In 2000, received a Special Tony Award for a Live Theatrical Presentation, for his one-person show titled "Dame Edna: The Royal Tour."
Barry Humphries was one of the hosts at "The Royal Pop Concert" in Buckingham Palace, London on June, 4th, 2002. He appeared as Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson and had the great honor to announce Queen Elizabeth II.
He was awarded the A.O. (the Officer of the Order of Australia) in the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Theatre.
Honorary Doctorate of Griffith University (Australia) in 1994.
Pictured on a set of five 50¢ Australian postage stamps in the Australian Legends series, issued 20 January 2006. One stamp has a photograph of Humphries without makeup. The other stamps have a photo of his alter ego "Edna Everage", showing how the character has changed through the years.
24 October 2006 Australia Post together with The Perth Mint issued a 50 cent legal tender coin with full-colour portrait of Dame Edna. Coin is mounted in special envelope with 2 postage stamps (featuring Barry Humphries as both Dame Edna and himself) cancelled at Moonee Ponds (suburb where Edna tells she comes from). Also Australian $1 silver one ounce coin portraying Dame Edna was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Barry Humphries as Dame Edna.
He was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2007 Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honors List for his services to entertainment.
Created the role of Mr. Sowerberry in the original West End production of Lionel Bart's musical "Oliver!".
He was awarded the Australian National Medal in December 1979.
He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Australian society through acting and writing.
He is a film producer and script writer, a star of London’s West End musical theatre, an award-winning writer and an accomplished landscape painter. Humphries’ characters, especially Dame Edna Everage, have brought him international renown, and he has appeared in numerous films, stage productions and television shows.
