Barry Humphries
A subversive comic genius who created two of the most outrageous and enduring characters in modern satire: a monstrous housewife and a vulgar diplomat.
1934–2023 (age 89)·Australian comedian·Birthday: February 17·The Silent Generation
Biography
Barry Humphries was not just a comedian; he was a ruthless and hilarious anthropologist of Australian suburban manners. From the Melbourne theatre scene, he unleashed Dame Edna Everage, a gaudy, insult-dispensing 'megastar' housewife from Moonee Ponds who began as a comment on provincial dullness and evolved into a global phenomenon. Her grotesque counterpart was Sir Les Patterson, a lecherous, culturally offensive cultural attaché. Through these and other characters, Humphries conducted a decades-long satire of pretension, vulgarity, and national identity, delivered with a wicked smile. His live shows were spectacular events of audience participation and floral violence, while his work in film and literature displayed a sharp, erudite mind behind the garish costumes. He left an indelible, and uncomfortably funny, mark on comedy.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Barry was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Barry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 80
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Died at 89
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
Key Achievements
- Created and performed as Dame Edna Everage, a character who became an international comedy icon with her own television specials and stage shows.
- Won a Special Tony Award in 2000 for his Broadway show 'Dame Edna: The Royal Tour.'
- Published over 30 books, including novels, autobiographies, and works of art criticism.
- Starred in films such as 'The Adventures of Barry McKenzie,' which he also co-wrote, helping define a wave of Australian cinema.
Did You Know?
He was a noted bibliophile and art collector, with an extensive collection of rare books and paintings.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2007.
He was a friend and collaborator with artists like Salvador Dalí and Peter Cook.
He survived a near-fatal bout of pancreatitis in 2012 after falling into a coma.
“The Australian audience is the most robust in the world. They're not frightened of being offended.”
