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- Australian comedian Barry Humphries died aged 89 after suffering complications from hip surgery.
- Humphries was best known for his outrageous character Dame Edna Everage.
- Australian PM Anthony Albanese said he was "a great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind."
Dame Edna Everage creator Barry Humphries died Saturday in a Sydney hospital at the age of 89 after suffering complications from hip surgery.
The Australian actor and comedian was best known for his Melbourne housewife character, Dame Edna Everage, which he debuted in 1955.
In a statement reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, his family remembered Melbourne-born Humphries as "completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit."
"He was also a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a friend and confidant to many. His passing leaves a void in so many lives," his family added. "The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on."
Tributes were led by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who wrote on Twitter: "A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift."
—Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 22, 2023
"Edna was painfully shy at first," Humphries told the Guardian in 2018 interview. "Hard to believe!"
Dame Edna became more and more outrageous over the years, and her catchphrase, "Hello possums!" will forever resonate with her fans.
Humphries also created other characters including Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone and his gongs over the decades included a Tony Award and an Olivier.
Dame Edna was well known for appearing on as well as hosting television chat shows, often reducing other guests to tears of laughter.
She was also an unlikely guest star in the fifth season of the TV drama "Ally McBeal" in 2002.
The Guardian reported at the the time that the character was the "latest in a string of unlikely celebrities to be drafted in to try to save the comedy drama, about a thirtysomething lawyer who can't find a man."