Barry Humphries’ family rallied to his side earlier this week when he was hospitalized following a health setback.
The 89-year-old entertainer – known for his drag alter ego Dame Edna Everage – has been hospitalized again after complications from a recent hip replacement.
Journalist Peter Ford, who appeared on Australia’s Channel Seven show Sunrise this Wednesday, said there were “serious concerns” about the strip.
Barry’s publicist also gave a humorous message from him on Wednesday, sharing: ‘Barry would like to thank everyone for the support and best wishes he has received, but he would like more and more’.
But as he stays St Vincent’s Hospital in eastern Sydney, MailOnline looks at what we know so far.
What happened to Barry Humphries? As comic Dame Edna, 89, is supported by family in hospital, MailOnline looks at what we know so far about his health problems
Alter ego: The entertainer – known for his drag alter ego Dame Edna Everage – has been hospitalized again after complications from a recent hip replacement (pictured as Dame Edna in 1980)
It was revealed on Tuesday that Barry’s family had gathered beside him while he had a health problem in hospital.
Respected entertainment journalist Peter Ford said at the time that the comedian was “at ease” and surrounded by loved ones.
“At the moment, Barry is in a serious condition, but he is being kept comfortable. He is surrounded by family,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ford said ‘it’s hard’ and asked Australians to send their love to the man who made them laugh for decades.
“I think Barry has a fighting spirit and he won’t give up easily,” he said.
Ford said there were “serious concerns” about the future of the beloved entertainer, but that he had a “fantastic” medical team behind him.
He added that Barry was still finding “moments of humor” from his hospital bed.
And to prove it, his publicist joked that he wanted “more and more” well wishes in addition to the ones he had already received from fans when she shared a post on his behalf.
Journalist Peter Ford said this week: ‘At the moment Barry is in a serious condition but he is being kept comfortable. He is surrounded by family’
Closely linked: It was revealed on Tuesday that Barry’s family had gathered next to him while he had a health problem in hospital (Barry pictured with his son Oscar and granddaughter Honey Rose)
While his wife of more than 30 years, Elizabeth Spender, told 9News that he was “doing well.”
The complications followed his surgery in February, which the entertainer was forced to undergo to endure after tripping over a rug and a fall in the house.
He was given a titanium hip after surgery, casually calling himself “Bionic Bazza.”
Speaking of the accident, Barry admitted that he had been in “pain” afterwards and had “painful” sessions with a physiotherapist, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Throughout his career, Barry has met and charmed most of the royal family, from the late Queen Mother to King Charles III.
The Melbourne native has played Dame Edna since 1955.
He was only 21, a college dropout and aspiring artist when he created the persona for which he would later become world famous.
He has been married four times and has four children: art dealer and journalist Oscar, actress Tessa, Rupert and Emily.
While the entertainer lives in London with his wife Lizzie Spender but has been spending time in Australia since December.
In 2021, he described a diagnosis of Extramammary Paget’s Disease (EMPD), a form of skin cancer, undergoing surgery after diagnosis.
EMPD is a rare, slow-growing disease that, according to the NHS, is a pre-invasive form of skin cancer.
“I had Paget’s rare extramammary disease, which was first noticed in the shower – so it was a general anesthetic and the knife,” Barry explained in his column for The Oldies magazine
Surgery: The complications followed his surgery in February, which the entertainer had to undergo after tripping on a rug and falling at home