Barry Humphries

John Barry Humphries AO (b. 17 February 1934) is an Australian comedian, satirist and character actor best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife, and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to Britain. Humphries is also a film producer and script writer, a star of London's West End musical theatre, an "award-winning" author and an accomplished landscape painter.

1970s

In 1970 Barry returned to Australia, where Edna Everage made her movie debut in John B. Murray's The Naked Bunyip. In 1971-72 he teamed up with producer Philip Adams and writer-director Bruce Beresford to create a film version of the Barry McKenzie cartoons. The Adventures of Barry MacKenzie starred singer Barry Crocker in the title role and featured Humphries -- who co-wrote the script with Beresford -- playing three different parts. It was filmed in England and Australia with an all-star cast including Spike Milligan, Peter Cook, Dennis Price, Dick Bentley, Willie Rushton, Julie Covington, Clive James and broadcaster Joan Bakewell. Like several other films of the time which have since been categorised as belonging to the Ocker genre of Australian film, it was almost unanimously panned by Australian film critics, but became a huge hit with audiences. In fact, the film became the most successful locally-made feature ever released in Australia up to that time, paving the way for the success of subsequent locally made feature films like Alvin Purple and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Related Topics:
John B. Murray - The Naked Bunyip - Philip Adams - Bruce Beresford - The Adventures of Barry MacKenzie - Barry Crocker - England - Australia - Dennis Price - Dick Bentley - Julie Covington - Clive James - Joan Bakewell - Ocker - Alvin Purple - Picnic at Hanging Rock

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Although his career was blossoming, throughout his sojourn in London Humphries had become increasingly dependent on alcohol and by the late Sixties his friends and family began to fear that his addiction might cost him his career and possibly even his life. It was undoubtedly one of the main reasons for the failure of his first marriage, and his drinking was also a contributing factor to the collapse of his second. His drinking reached crisis point during a visit home in the early Seventies -- his parents finally had him admitted to a private hospital to 'dry out' when, after a particularly heavy binge, he was found unconscious in a gutter. Since then he has abstained from alcohol completely and was one of the many friends who tried vainly to help Peter Cook, who eventually died from alcohol-related illnesses. It has been speculated that the excesses of the perpetually drunk Sir Les Patterson are to some extent informed by his own battles with the bottle.

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