SYDNEY, April  22, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Australian comedian Barry Humphries,
whose "Dame Edna Everage" alter ego left audiences in stitches, died on
Saturday in a Sydney hospital.

Humphries, best known for his impersonation of a suburban housewife in the
guise of Everage, "passed away peacefully" surrounded by family, said a
statement by his publicist to Australian media.

"He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant
mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit," it said.

"With over seventy years on the stage, he was an entertainer to his core,
touring up until the last year of his life and planning more shows that will
sadly never be."

He leaves his wife Lizzie, four children and 10 grandchildren, it said.
"The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live
on."

The 89-year-old died in Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital after being treated
for various ailments, Australian media said. The hospital declined to comment.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid homage to the actor, whose
unforgettable characters included Everage, the lecherous and boorish Sir Les
Patterson, and the dull, elderly man of the suburbs Sandy Stone.

- 'Brightest star' -

"Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame
Edna to Sandy Stone," the prime minister said on social media.

"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."

Humphries was taken to hospital in February after falling and hurting his
hip at home, requiring a hip replacement, the Sydney Morning Herald said.
"I have to get back on my feet... I am going back on tour later this year,"
he was quoted as telling the paper last month.

His turns as Everage and Patterson saw him achieve international renown,
particularly in Britain where he was made a Commander of the Order of the
British Empire in 2007 for services to entertainment.

Everage was first conceived when Humphries toured southern Australia as a
young actor in the 1950s and she evolved from drab housewife to a
self-proclaimed "gigastar" parody of celebrity best known for her catchphrase
"Hello Possums".

She went on to host her own 1980s talk show, "The Dame Edna Experience",
which attracted an array of luminaries including Mel Gibson, the late Sean
Connery, Charlton Heston, and Chubby Checker.

- Belching, flatulence -

Her 1990s talk shows, "Dr Dame Edna Kisses It Better" and "The Dame Edna
Treatment", were just as star-studded, with guests ranging from actors Susan
Sarandon, Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen to the late Shane Warne.

Everage also starred in the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth
Games, held in her home town of Melbourne.

The coarse and vulgar Patterson came later, first appearing in a Humphries
stage show in 1974 and evolving into a caricature of Australian diplomats
abroad at a performance in Hong Kong.

Best known for his offensive behaviour, which included belching, flatulence
and nose-picking, the buck-toothed, grubby "late cultural attache to the Court
of St James" also won a devoted following.