Barry Humphries
Biography
Barry Humphries was an Australian comedian and actor who built a five-decade career around stage and television characters he wrote and performed, above all Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. Born in Kew, Melbourne, he studied at the University of Melbourne and joined the Melbourne Theatre Company, where the first sketch featuring Edna Everage premiered in 1955. After moving to London in 1959, he appeared as Mr. Sowerberry in the original production of Oliver! and later played Fagin in West End revivals. His film work ranged from a cameo in Bedazzled (1967) to co-writing and acting in The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972), with later roles in Shock Treatment (1981), Immortal Beloved (1994), Finding Nemo (2003), and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). His one-man shows earned an Olivier Award for A Night with Dame Edna and a Special Tony Award for Dame Edna: The Royal Tour.
89years old at death
- Born Kew
- Died Darlinghurst
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- John Barry Humphries (birth name)Also credited as Dame Edna Everage, Edna Everage, Les Patterson, Barry McKenzie and Sandy Stone
Movie Career
- Films
- 17
- Career span
- 52 years1967 to 2019
Genres
First and latest
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Getting ready for a role
In his autobiography More Please, Humphries said he came up with a character much like Edna at age 20, in the back of a bus during a Victoria tour of Twelfth Night with the MTC. He gave credit to his mentor then, Peter O'Shaughnessy.
Big break
Humphries got his first big British stage break playing the undertaker Mr Sowerberry in the original 1960 London production of Oliver!, and he played the part again when the show moved to Broadway in 1963.
First role
Humphries got his first film part in 1967 thanks to his friendship with Cook and Moore. He played "Envy" in Bedazzled, a cameo in the Stanley Donen film that starred Cook and Moore.
Behind the award
Humphries won the inaugural Special Tony Award for a Live Theatrical Event in 2000 for his show Dame Edna: The Royal Tour, and he also won two National Broadway Theatre Awards in 2001.
Barry Humphries movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey2012 Adventure, Fantasyas The Great Goblin
IMDb rating 7.8937K votes
- The Adventures of Barry McKenzie1972as Aunt Edna Everage / Hoot / Dr. DeLamphrey
IMDb rating 5.6993 votes
Most often with
Eight actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Toni Collette's page
Eric Bana's page
Felix Williamson's page
Deborah Mailman's page
Barry Otto's page
Peter Cook's page
Also two films together2 more actors
- Christopher MalcolmShock Treatment (1981) and The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972)
- Carole SkinnerNapoleon (1995) and Howling III (1987)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Barry Humphries's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$2.0 billion
6 of the 17 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 17 films: 6 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 5 figure not found.
- 6Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 5Figure not found
Highest grossing
The six biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$1.0B50.4% of the total
- 2$940M46.4% of the total
- 3$38M1.9% of the total
- 4$20M1.0% of the total
- 5$4.6M0.2% of the total
- 6$1.7M0.1% of the total
Awards
Nine awards and honors from 1982 to 2023.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2023 | Companion of the Order of Australia | Won | |
| 2009 | James Joyce Awards | Won | |
| 2007 | Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | |
| 2001 | Centenary Medal | Won | |
| 2000 | Theatre World Special Award | Won | |
| 1982 | Officer of the Order of Australia | Won | |
| Ackerley Prize | Won | ||
| Australian National Living Treasure | Won | ||
| Sydney Theatre Awards | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.