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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Rarely Everage

The Lives of Barry Humphries

The exhibition begins with Barry's childhood in Camberwell, Melbourne and chronicles his days as a struggling actor in Australia and England, his creation of characters including Barry McKenzie, Dame Edna Everage, Sandy Stone and Sir Les Patterson

More information on Rarely Everage

Selected images

11 images
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Slim Dusty and Dame Edna Everage, Carlton Hill Station, WA, 10 July 1993
Slim Dusty and Dame Edna Everage, Carlton Hill Station, WA, 10 July 1993 John Elliott. © John Elliott
Sir Les Patterson
Sir Les Patterson, 1999 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland
Dressed up as sailor, 1937 by Eric Humphries
Dressed up as sailor, 1937 by Eric Humphries
Bathing costume with sprinklers (aged 4 – 5), 1939 by Eric Humphries
Bathing costume with sprinklers (aged 4 – 5), 1939 by Eric Humphries
Barry Humphries ‘acting the goat’ unknown photographer
Barry Humphries ‘acting the goat’ unknown photographer
Barry Humphries Dieppe, 1976 by John Timbers
Barry Humphries Dieppe, 1976 by John Timbers
Madame Tussauds, 1982 by John Timbers
Madame Tussauds, 1982 by John Timbers
Sir Les (with cane) 1982 by John Timbers
Sir Les (with cane) 1982 by John Timbers
Barry Humphries at Little Venice, 1965 by Lewis Morley
Barry Humphries at Little Venice, 1965 by Lewis Morley
Barry Humphries in the character of Mrs Everage, 1969 by John Brack
Barry Humphries in the character of Mrs Everage, 1969 by John Brack
The Sexpert, 1985 by John Timbers
The Sexpert, 1985 by John Timbers
11 images
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Related information

Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries

No Laughing Matter

Magazine article by Simon Elliott, 2002

The biographical exhibition of Barry Humphries was the first display of its kind at the National Portrait Gallery.
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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