Australia said goodbye to entertainer and comedian Barry Humphries (1934-2023) on Friday with a state memorial service. Several personalities, especially King Charles III. (75), remembered the man who died in April at the event in the Sydney Opera House.
As Australian media reported at the time, Humphries, who was best known for the character Dame Edna Everage, died at the age of 89 after complications from hip surgery. At the memorial service, Australian Arts Minister Tony Burke read out a message from the king, as reported by the British Daily Mail, among others. Charles is said to have been on friendly terms with Humphries.
“I suspect that everyone who has appeared on stage or on television with Barry’s Dame Edna, or seen her appear at the back of the royal box, has shared this unique feeling of combining fear and fun,” he said it in Charles’ message. The current king is alluding to Humphries’ performance at the Royal Variety Performance in 2013.
Anyone who tried to insist on their dignity quickly lost their footing – and anyone who wondered whether Humphries would go too far was always right: “Nobody was safe.” The comedian’s characters would have stimulated people, exposed presumptions or even broken through pomposity. Above all, they taught them to laugh at themselves.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (60), media mogul Rupert Murdoch (92), comedian Jimmy Carr (51) and Sir Elton John (76) also spoke in front of thousands of fans, some of whom were dressed as Dame Edna. . Humphries was “one of the funniest people in the world,” the music superstar said in a video message.
