Dame Edna Everage star Barry Humphries seen hugging fan at spa in touching last photo before tragic death at 89
LEGENDARY comedian Barry Humphries shared a touching moment with a fan in his last picture.
The veteran Australian entertainer, most famous for his character Dame Edna Everage, died on Saturday aged 89.
The comic passed away in Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital alongside his family, his management said.
Barry had been released from hospital just days ago but was readmitted after a health setback.
In a photo from December last year, the Melbourne-born comic was seen hugging a fan in a sweet public encounter.
Barefoot and wearing salmon-pink chinos and a striped shirt, Humphries seemed relaxed as he put his arms around two female fans.
Humphries, who created the famous Dame Edna character in 1955, was rushed to hospital earlier this week following complications after a recent surgery.
He needed hip replacement surgery after suffering a fall at home.
Born February 17, 1934, John Barry Humphries loved dressing up and acting from a young age.
His parents were wealthy, but Humphries later said he was largely left alone to amuse himself.
He told an interviewer that he spent hours playing with a dressing-up box in his back garden.
Originally studying law, philosophy and fine arts at the University of Melbourne, the comic dropped out to pursue a career as an artist.
As part of his art, he often carried out bizarre pranks, including pretending to eat his own “vomit”.
Humphries was just 21 when he created the character for which he would become world famous.
In 1955, while touring with the newly-formed Melbourne Theatre Company, the then-named Mrs Norm Everage had her debut.
As Dame Edna, he appeared in several films, hosted TV shows and wrote several books.
With her lilac hair and cat eye glasses, the character became known all over the world.
Humphries moved to London in 1959 where he befriended top British comedians and writers including Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, and Spike Milligan.
He performed at London nightclub The Establishment, owned by Peter Cook, and wrote for the satirical magazine Private Eye.
Humphries also appeared in West End musicals Oliver! and Maggie May.
He said his most famous character was based partly on his mother, and partly on the “provincial mayoresses” he met on a regional theatre tour.
The name Edna was taken from his beloved childhood nanny, he later explained.
In an interview with The Guardian last year, Humphries said of Edna: “She has proved indestructible – and a very useful mouthpiece. She can say things, for instance, about political correctness that I couldn’t possibly express.”
Back in his native Australia, Humphries co-founded the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1987.
Controversially, his name was removed from an award in 2018 following a backlash over remarks he made about trans people.
Speaking to The Spectator, he said: “How many different kinds of lavatory can you have? And it’s pretty evil when it’s preached to children by crazy teachers.”
In 2016, he also called gender reassignment surgery “self-mutilation” and branded prominent trans woman Caitlyn Jenner “a publicity-seeking ratbag”.
However, he later claimed the comments were “grossly misinterpreted”.
Humphries is survived by his fourth wife Lizzie Spender and his four children.
He married Spender in 1990 and has two daughters and sons from his previous wives.
Explaining the secret for his long marriage with Spender, Humphries said: “I’m a bit smarter now. The truth is I’m not a very easy person to be married to.”