Barry Humphries’s full name is John Barry Humphries an Australian actor, artist, author, satirist, and comedian. He was best known for creating and portraying the characters of Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and “Gigastar”, and Sir Les Patterson, a genuinely rude “Australian diplomat”.
He was also a film producer and screenwriter, a star of London’s West End musical theatre, an award-winning author, and a landscape painter.
How Much Was Barry Humphries’ Net Worth?
As of 2021, Barry Humphries’ net worth is estimated to be around $12 million, according to various earnings sources from his work in film, television, theater, and comedy. As of April 2023, his net worth is estimated to be $18 million. He made this amount through his prosperous professional career. Considering that a comedian typically makes $54,080 annually.
Barry Humphries’ Career Life
Humphries’ career began in the early 1950s, and he has been working ever since, gaining popularity and recognition for his unique brand of comedy.
After completing his education at the University of Melbourne, John Barry Humphreys began his career in art in Australia.
He performed and wrote in Several stage productions and comedy acts, often humorous characters and portraying eccentric people.
In 1960s and 1970s
Barry Humphreys’ career took off in the 1960s and 1970s. He also starred in the musical “Oliver!” Performed in various stage productions including in London. In which he played the role of Mr. Sowerberry.
He also appeared in many films, including”The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom” and “The Wrong Box”. Humphreys’ unique and eccentric character became increasingly popular, and he began performing in one-man shows across the UK.
Film Roles
Barrie Humphreys appeared in several films throughout his career in addition to his stage work. Some of his notable film roles include playing Fag in Uncle Kevin in “The Getting of Wisdom” and “The Bliss of Mrs.Blossom”
One-Man Shows
Humphreys’ one-man show was very successful in Britain and Australia. He created and performed as his most popular characters including Sandy Stone, Sir Les Patterson, and Dame Edna Everage. These shows often included humor, audience interaction, and satire.
Television Roles
Throughout his career, Humphreys also appeared on various television shows. Some of his notable roles include hosting his own talk show, “The Dame Edna Experience” and playing Kenny Everett’s father in the comedy series “The Kenny Everett Television Show”
Barry Humphries’ Personal Life
An Australian comedian Barrie Humphries has been married 4 times. He has two sons and two daughters from his second, third, and fourth marriages. In the 1960s Humphreys struggled with alcoholism but quit drinking completely after a serious incident.
Barrie Humphreys is a lover of music, literature, and art. He has a larger collection of books, including rare first editions. He is an art collector and also a landscape painter.
In Australia, Barry Humphries is a patron of the Melba Foundation and in London, he was a supporter of the Tait Memorial Trust. He has been criticized for commenting on transgender people, which some consider insulting or disrespectful.
How Was The Early Life Of Barry Humphries?
John Barry Humphreys’ mother was a homemaker and his father was a construction manager. Barrie Humphreys grew up in a comfortable and modern home in one of Melbourne’s garden suburbs.
At a young age, he really enjoyed playing dress-up and entertaining people, then he learned that making people laugh was a great way to make friends with them.
Humphreys’ parents nicknamed him “Sunny Sam“, and he had a happy childhood until he began to rebel against conventional suburban life.
He was interested in art but his parents did not approve of his interest.
At the age of nine, Humphreys’ mother donated all of his books, which led him to become an avid reader and collector of rare books.
Barrie Humphreys also developed a love for theater and surrealism. At a young age, He created his first character, “Dr. Aaron Azimuth”, and enjoyed dressing up in a black Homburg, a black cloak, and dark liquid makeup used on eyelashes. The character was a dandy, agent provocateur, and Dadaist.
What Was the Education Background Of Barry Humphries?
John Barry Humphreys went to two schools in Australia, Melbourne Grammar School, and Camberwell Grammar School. At Melbourne Grammar School, he did well in English and the arts but did not like maths or sports. He went to the University of Melbourne for two years but did not complete his studies.
At the University of Melbourne, he started Melbourne University Regiment and served in the Australian Army for a period of National Service. He is best known for his involvement in the Dadaist art movement, which involves creating things that are ridiculously unreasonable and meaningless.
Humphreys and his friends made many funny and strange things, such as a pair of shoes filled with custard and an insecticide that was to be used against a protected animal in Australia.
What Was the Height and Weight of Barry Humphries?
Barry is 75 kg and his height is 5 feet 11 inches. He measured the height at 46 inches. his black hair contrasted with the brown of his eyes.
Barry Humphries’s Honors and Awards
- In 1975 He received the Douglas Wilkie Medal.
- For his 1979 production of A Night with Dame Edna, he also received the Society of West End Management’s Comedy Performance of the Year Award.
- In 1997, the Melbourne City Council presented him with the Artist Award.
- He was recognized by King’s College London as a Fellow of King’s College in 2017.
Barry Humphries Died at 89
He breathed his last on April 22, 2023. Barry died at the age of just 89. In February 2023, he had hip surgery after falling off a cliff. His death was mainly due to the side effects of hip surgery.
He was hospitalized after suffering complications from surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. His death was announced by his family on Saturday.
He maintained his sharp wit, distinctive intelligence, and kind nature till the end. He was also a devoted and caring father, grandfather, spouse, and friend to many. Many people’s lives have become empty due to his death.
Final Words
Barry Humphries has had a long and successful career in the entertainment industry and has accumulated a considerable net worth through the achievement of various goals. Although his career has not been without controversy, he remains one of Australia’s best-known and beloved comedians.