Tributes have poured in for legendary Australian comedian Barry Humphries .
The Dame Edna Everage star died on Saturday evening at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, where he had been treated following complications from hip surgery.
A spokesperson for the hospital David Faktor confirmed his death to the PA News Agency and said in a statement: ‘I can confirm passed away this evening Sydney time, around 7pm on Saturday evening (11am GMT).
A statement from Humphries’ family remembered him for his ‘unique with and generosity of spirit’ and added: ‘The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on.’
Paying tribute to Humphries former GBBO host Matt Lucas wrote: ‘I wonder if all geniuses are as lovely as Barry Humphries. Thank you for delighting and inspiring us. Quite simply, you were the greatest.’
Ricky Gervais added: ‘Farewell, Barry Humphries, you Comedy genius.’
Piers Morgan said: ‘RIP Barry Humphries, 89. One of the funniest people I’ve ever met. A wondrously intelligent, entertaining, daring, provocative, mischievous comedy genius. As hilarious in private as he was as the iconic Dame Edna. What a life, what a character. Thanks for all the laughs, Barry.’
TV presenter Carol Vorderman praised Humphries’ ‘bright intelligence and mischief’ in a tribute on Twitter.
She wrote: ‘You will be mourned Barry Humphries.’
‘I only met you a few times but that look in your eyes full of bright intelligence and mischief, knowing trouble was ahead and looking forward to every special second of it: I’ll never forget it. Thank you Sir.
‘A genius.’
Rylan Clark said: ‘Seeing all the Barry Humphries clips is just so warming. What a genuine genius. Such a sad loss.’
Paying tribute on Instagram, Kate Beckinsale wrote: ‘What a loss. A unique, ahead of his time absolute genius. Fly well, #barryhumphries. There will be no one like you ever again. ?.’
Comedian Dara O’Briain has described Humphries as ‘one of the absolute funniest people ever.’
‘RIP Barry Humphries, one of the absolute funniest people ever,’ Dara tweeted. ‘A huge life, lived long and well. He will be missed.’
Broadcaster Andrew Neil has said he visited Humphries in hospital two weeks ago when his ‘spirits and wit were as acute as ever.’
‘So sad to learn Barry Humphries has passed away,’ he tweeted.
‘When I visited him in his Sydney hospital two weeks ago he was ailing from several health problems.
‘But his spirits and wit were as acute as ever. We laughed away as the stories poured out. Funny, hugely literate, fiercely smart.
‘I count myself lucky and privileged I got to see him one more time. A comic genius the likes of which we will never see again.’
Comedian Rob Brydon, a friend of Humphries, said he was with the Australian entertainer just three days ago when ‘he was, as ever, making me laugh.’
‘RIP Barry Humphries. A true great who inspired me immeasurably,’ Brydon tweeted.
‘It was a delight to call him my friend.
‘I’ve been in Australia and was with him only 3 days ago. He was, as ever, making me laugh. His talent shone until the very end.
‘My love goes out to Lizzie and all the family.’
Australian actor Jason Donovan said Humphries was ‘quite simply an entertaining genius.’
He tweeted: ‘Australia has lost one of its greatest!
‘Funny, literate and fiercely intelligent, Barry Humphries was quite simply an entertaining genius.
‘The characters he created brought laughter to millions… My thoughts are with family on this sad day!’
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Humphries, describing him as ‘the brightest star’ in ‘a galaxy of personas’.
‘For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone,’ Albanese tweeted.
‘But the brightest star in that galaxy was always Barry.
‘A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift. May he rest in peace.’
