What is Barry Humphries Net Worth?
$20 to $30 Million.
Barry Humphries is an iconic Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. As of 2024, Barry Humphries’s net worth is $20 to $30 million.
| Full Name | Barry Humphries |
| Net Worth | $20 To $30 Million |
| Birth Date | 17 February 1934 |
| Age | 89 Years Old |
| Profession | Comedian, Actor, author |
| Update | 2024 |
With his biting satire and over-the-top characters, Barry is considered one of Australia’s most influential and celebrated comedic talents.
Over his 60+ year career, Barry has brought Dame Edna and Sir Les to life through sold-out live shows, television specials, films, books and more.
His humor pushes boundaries and confronts audiences, highlighting absurdities and hypocrisies in everyday Australian life. Called the “clown prince” of comedy, Barry’s impact on comedy cannot be overstated.
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Barry Humphries Biography/Wiki: Early Life & Education
Barry Humphries was born in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell, Victoria on 17 February 1934. He is currently 89 years old. He belongs to the Australian nationality and believes in the Christian religion. His ethnicity is white and his zodiac sign is Aquarius.
His father was a construction manager and his mother was a dancer and costume designer. From a young age, Barry showed a talent for performance and creativity.
As a child, Barry endured a lonely childhood and had a turbulent relationship with his parents. He struggled at Melbourne Grammar School, where he spent significant time evading sports to read and draw. Barry later said the creation of his characters began as a coping mechanism to escape the misery of school.
After briefly attending Melbourne University, Barry decided to leave for London in 1952 to pursue his interests in the arts.
He immersed himself in poetry, literature and stage productions, befriending famous talents like poet John Betjeman and Peter Cook of the comedy group Beyond the Fringe. These influences would later shape Barry’s avant garde comedy style.
Physical Appearance: Height, Weight & Body Measurements
In his prime, Barry Humphries stood at a reported height of 6 feet 1 inches (185 cm) and weight of 78kg (172 pounds). He had a thin build with dyed blonde hair.
Now in his late 80’s, Barry uses a walking cane and wears large glasses. He has let his natural gray hair color grow out. Barry continues to show off his signature dressing style, often donning bright satin shirts, ascots, velvet jackets and brooches on his public appearances.
Barry Humphries Family, Wife, Children
Barry Humphries has been married four times and has four children:
First wife – Brenda Wright (1955–1970)
Children:
– Tessa Humphries
– Emily Humphries
Second wife – Diane Millstead (1979-1989)
Third wife – Lizzie Spender (1990-1999)
Children:
– Oscar Humphries
Current wife – Lizzie Watson (since 2000)
Children:
– Freddie Humphries
In addition to his wives and children, Barry remains very close with his surviving elder sister, Peggy, who lives in Australia. Sadly his parents and younger brother are no longer alive.
Barry is also uncle to the 1990’s supermodel Claudia Schiffer.
Barry Humphries Net Worth
Barry Humphries’ net worth is estimated between $20 to $30 million dollars. As an entertainer with over 60 years in show business across television, film and stage productions, Barry has amassed quite a fortune.
It’s estimated Barry earned around $15 to $20 million throughout his career as Dame Edna. He reportedly earned $100K per live show and $1 million per year through various Dame Edna performances and deals in his peak years.
Residuals from Dame Edna TV specials, merchandise and related media likely earn Barry a steady annual income.
In addition, Barry has earned income from best-selling comedy albums, books (he’s published over 10), fine art and printed caricatures. He also earned from film roles, soundtrack work and investments in shows he co-wrote or produced.
Details Career
After starting out in satirical stage revues and performing in the Melbourne University’s Architecture Revue, Barry rose to fame in England in the 1960’s with his one-man satirical comedy shows.
Barry premiered the Edna Everage character in 1955 but she didn’t take off until his acclaimed “A Nice Night’s Entertainment” stage show in London, which later toured internationally. This boosted Barry’s fame across Europe and Australia. Dame Edna became so popular she spawned books, merchandise, a musical and talk shows.
Over his decades-long career, Barry has created over 30 stage productions, often selling out runs in London and Broadway for months. He’s brought Edna or Sir Les characters into shows like “An Evening’s Intercourse with Dame Edna” and “Remember You’re Out.”
Beyond live comedy, Barry has guest starred and hosted comedy TV shows for BBC and ITV in England and also productions in America and Australia. He starred on Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and acted in films like Nicholas Nickleby and Finding Nemo.
Barry “retired” Dame Edna in the 2000’s before resurrecting her for touring farewell shows and special one-off performances in the 2010’s. Even in his late 80’s, Barry maintains an active standup career.
Facts & Trivia
Fun facts and trivia about Barry Humphries:
1. His first paid gig was at age 15 when he sung “Goodnight Irene” at a local fundraiser
2. Dame Edna was partly inspired by his mother and Adelaide housewife gigs
3. Played significant role in 1960’s British satire boom alongside Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller
4. Friends nicknamed him “Baddies Bracegirdles” in school for behavior
5. Originally created Sir Les Patterson for a cookbook parody
6. Appeared in Hollywood films like Finding Nemo, Nicholas Nickleby, Spice World
7. Has won Golden Globes, Tony Awards, Olivier Awards and BAFTAs
8. Performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and composed musicals
9. Published multiple best-selling comedy books sometimes under alias’
10. Dame Edna once interviewed Kanye West to ask fashion advice
Awards & Achievements
Some notable awards and honors Barry Humphries has received include:
- Officer of the Order of Australia (1982)
- Australian Entertainment Mo Award (1984)
- National Trust of Australia (Dame Edna Blight) Award (1990)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical “A Funny Thing Happened…” (2000)
- Golden Globe for Best Actor in Comedy/Musical TV Series (2004)
- Special Tony Award for live theatrical shows (2004 & 2012)
- Australian Film Institute Longford Life Achievement Award (2012 AACTA)
- BAFTA Fellowship Lifetime Achievement Award (2012)
- Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour Medal (2016)
- Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performer (2017)
- Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (2017)
Website, Social Media: Instagram, Twitter
As he doesn’t actively manage his own social media, Barry Humphries doesn’t currently run public official Instagram, Twitter or Facebook pages. Fans often tag Barry in fan tribute accounts on sites like Instagram with handles like @Dame_Edna_Everage_Official and @SirLesPatterson.
Conclusion
For over 60 years, Barry Humphries has established himself as one of the most successful and celebrated comedic talents Australia has produced. His iconic satirical characters like Dame Edna Everage have not just brought laughter across generations, but have held a mirror up to society and confronted audiences with provocative yet thoughtful humor.
While Barry has officially “retired” his characters like Dame Edna, he continues performing standup on stages worldwide even today in his late 80’s. Barry Humphries’ lasting cultural impact through theater, literature, television and film has cemented his legacy as the “Clown Prince” of comedy in Australia and abroad.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Barry Humphries:
1. Is Barry Humphries still alive?
Yes, Barry Humphries is currently 88 years old and living in homes in Melbourne, Australia and London, England. He continued performing live shows in his late 80’s.
2. What was Barry Humphries’ big break?
Barry’s big break came in London in the early 1960’s through his acclaimed one-man satirical revues like “A Nice Night’s Entertainment.” This boosted his fame internationally as he introduced the iconic Dame Edna character to wider audiences.
3. Is Dame Edna a real person?
No, Dame Edna Everage is a fictional satirical character created and performed by Australian comedian Barry Humphries. She is an archetype of a suburban Australian housewife created by Barry in the 1950’s.
4. Why did Barry Humphries retire Dame Edna?
In the early 2000’s Barry decided to officially retire playing Dame Edna live on stage as the character had dominated much of his career. However he brought back Edna for touring “farewell” performances and special shows in the 2010’s due to popular demand.
5. What films was Barry Humphries in?
Barry has appeared in films like the Oscar-nominated Nicholas Nickleby, Finding Nemo, Spice World, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie and Les Patterson Saves the World. He’s also voiced animation and sang on screen soundtracks.
6. What award did Barry Humphries win for acting?
Barry has won numerous major awards for his live comedy shows and acting. Highlights include a Tony Award for the Broadway musical “A Funny Thing Happened…” and a Golden Globe for Best TV Comedy Actor for Dame Edna’s talk show appearances.
Yes, supermodel Claudia Schiffer is Barry Humphries’ niece by marriage. Her mother was briefly married to Barry’s brother in the 1960’s, making Claudia technically Barry’s niece.
