Born in Australia, Barry Humphries moved to London and created various characters, most famously Dame Edna Everidge and Sir Les Patterson.
Dame Edna was created by Barry Humphries in 1955.
Dame Edna's famous catchphrases include "hello possums".
His first break on the British stage was as creator of the role of undertaker Mr Sowerberry in the original 1960 London stage production of Oliver.
In 1967 Barry Humphries played Fagin in the Piccadilly Theatre's revival, and reprised the role at the London Palladium.
Barry Humphries had a suitably surreal role on Ally McBeal for a while.
Barry Humphries was awarded a CBE in 2007.
In 2008, The Guardian reported that whilst recovering from peritonitis, Barry Humphries launched an online art gallery.
