Barry Humphries battled cancer for years before his death

The late comedian Barry Humphries, farewelled in a private funeral on Friday, had been in a battle with cancer and hip replacement surgery revealed the true toll the disease had taken on his body.

Australia’s favourite showman Barry Humphries waged a secret battle with cancer before his death in Sydney last week.

As his loved-ones gathered on Friday for a private funeral service in the Southern Highlands, close family sources confirmed that Humphries health challenges were more complex than previously reported.

Hip replacement surgery conducted after Humphries broke his hip in a fall at his Sydney apartment in February revealed the extent of the cancer that would rob him of plans to stage one last concert tour – and end his life within six weeks.

The 89-year-old died last Saturday at 7pm at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.

In 2021 he was diagnosed with a rare form of pre-invasive skin cancer, Extramammary Paget disease, on one of his testicles – his “front botty”, as he dubbed the area in a UK column – requiring surgery.

Faced with his prognosis, only recently discovered to be terminal, the artist best known for creating “gigastar” Dame Edna Everage, would spend his final days fondly saying goodbye to family and friends.

It can be revealed that Barry Humphries had a long, secret battle with cancer. Picture: Liam Kidston

Along with wife of three decades Lizzie Spender and children Tessa, Emily, Rupert and Oscar, a steady stream of dear friends were invited to bid adieu to their great friend and mentor.

These included film director Bruce Beresford, British comedian Rob Brydon, British journalist Andrew Neil, musical director Andrew Ross and writer Kathy Lette.

King Charles also made contact, extending his sympathies to the family.

Bryden, who had been in Australia touring, last week said: “He was, as ever, making me laugh. His talent shone until the very end.”

Beresford, who directed Humphries in 1972’s The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, described his friend’s death as “terribly sad”.

Barry Humphries’ greatest comic creation Dame Edna Everage.

Barry Humphries showing his grandchildren the footlights at the Gielgud Theatre in June 2022. Picture: Instagram

“I watched him fade,” he said.

Beresford was among those who gathered at artist Tim Storrier’s Bowral estate for a small, private send-off. A close source said the artist’s wife and family were also weighing up offers for a state funeral from rival states, Victoria and NSW, but were not keen.

Humphries, who was raised an Anglican but no longer considered himself to be religious, was cremated during the week.

The funeral service came amid new insight into the bittersweet, family-filled final days of the beloved entertainer.

Humphries continued to joke with all – family, friends, doctors and nurses – and was determined to keep the laughs going until the inevitable end.

Reports stating Humphries “died of complications following hip replacement surgery” – the cause of death broadly attributed to Cardinal George Pell – failed to address the specific underlying cause of death.

Barry Humphries with his wife Lizzie Spender. Picture: AFP

Oscar Humphries posted a picture at his old hunting ground of Bondi. Source: Instagram

On Thursday, Humphries’ son Oscar, an art and design dealer who lives in London with his young family and who had previously been estranged from his father, posted a shot of himself at his old Bondi Beach stomping ground.

He last year posted an image of Humphries Sr introducing his brood of young grandchildren to the footlights at London’s legendary Gielgud Theatre.

Oscar’s bedside reunion with his “dada”, like that of half-sister Emily’s – who was also estranged from her largely absent father for over a decade – is said to have made for some emotional hospital scenes.

Originally published as Barry Humphries battled cancer for years before his death