Barry Humphries, known for his onstage and TV drag persona Edna Everage and for his character Sir Les Patterson, has died. He was 89. The BBC reported that Humphries had been in hospital in Sydney, Australia and had been suffering from complications following surgery in March. “A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said following the news of Humphries’ death.

For his one-person show “Dame Edna: The Royal Tour,” which had a run on Broadway, Humphries received a Special Tony Award for a live theatrical presentation in 2000, and in 2014 “Barry Humphries’ Farewell Tour — Eat, Pray, Laugh!” was nominated for an Olivier Award.

Variety panned “All About Me,” a Broadway show that awkwardly paired Humphries with song man Michael Feinstein in 2010, but declared, “It’s a joy to have Dame Edna Everage back on Broadway, regardless of the indignities she’s forced to suffer in ‘All About Me.’ After umpteen appearances, Barry Humphries’ monstrously funny incarnation of an Australian housewife run amok on fame and flattery still retains its savage wit.” Edna Everage evolved slowly but got a big boost into the public consciousness of Australians with the release of Aussie cult films “The Adventures of Barry McKenzie” (1972) and 1974 follow-up “Barry McKenzie Holds His Own,” both directed by Bruce Beresford and written by Beresford and Humphries.

In addition to the popular character of Barry McKenzie, played by Barry Crocker, the films featured Humphries playing Aunt Edna Everage among other characters.

Barry Humphries, Who Played Dame Edna Everage, Dies at 89

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