Steve Vizard says comedy world ‘will never see another artist like Barry Humphries’ after his death at age 89: ‘He was a one-off’
Steve Vizard has paid tribute to his friend Barry Humphries following the legendary comedian’s death at the age of 89.
The Full Frontal star appeared on The Sunday Project and said there will never be another artist like Humphries.
“To answer your question, will we ever see someone like him again? Seven decades to provoke and prod and crassly skew and pierce? No, we don’t,” said the 67-year-old.
Barry was a one off. He started, as we all know, in the ’40s, ’50s. He invented Edna Everage and this huge number of characters,” he continued.
And they were all sharp, they were all relevant to the time. Then he continued. The 60s, the 70s.
‘He changed [his characters] Sir Les Patterson, Barry McKenzie. Edna moved to a ladyship. So he went for seven decades’.
Steve Vizard (pictured) has paid tribute to his friend Barry Humphries following the legendary comedian’s death at the age of 89. Speaking to The Sunday Project, the Full Frontal star said there will never be another performer like Humphries.
“To answer your question, will we ever see someone like him again? Seven decades to provoke and prod and crassly skew and pierce? No, we don’t,” said the 67-year-old. ‘Barry was a one-off’ Humphries is in the photo
Steve classified Humphries as an ‘artist’ who always intended to provoke the public and criticize Australian culture.
“He saw his role as a Dadaist artist, an artist who wants to provoke, create chaos, become a deceiver. Create chaos. He saw that as his role from the start,” explains Steve.
Humphries, who died Saturday at age 89 from complications following hip surgery, had an eclectic circle of friends that included Peter Cook, Salvador Dali and The Beatles.
Steve classified Humphries as an ‘artist’ who always intended to provoke the public and criticize Australian culture
The comedian died at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney surrounded by his immediate family, including his wife of 30 years Lizzie Spender.
For weeks, the comic had dismissed concerns about the seriousness of his condition, but before noon on Saturday, a spokesperson confirmed he had died.
Humphries tripped over a rug while reaching for a book in February and underwent surgery at St Vincent’s, where he was readmitted this week.
“He was completely himself to the end and never lost his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity,” his family said in a statement.
Dame Edna Everage remains Humphries’ most recognizable invention, becoming internationally recognizable over the decades.
The beloved character began life as a housewife in Melbourne in the 1950s and was known for his lilac permed hair, outlandish cat-eye glasses and gaudy dresses.
Dame Edna Everage remains Humphries’ most recognizable invention, becoming internationally recognizable over the decades