Rolf Harris dies, aged 93
23 May 2023, 13:22 | Updated: 23 May 2023, 14:03
Rolf Harris had been diagnosed with neck cancer and had been receiving round-the-clock care.
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Rolf Harris has died at the age of 93.
Harris, the Australian entertainer who was convicted of several counts of indecent assault in 2014, died at his estate in Bray, Berkshire.
Harris had been diagnosed with neck cancer last year and was reported to be receiving 24-hour care.
News of his death was confirmed to PA by a registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall.
Before his convictions, Harris worked in art, television and music.
He had hits with popular songs like 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport', 'Jake The Peg' and 'Two Little Boys', and also fronted the successful TV shows Rolf's Cartoon Club and Animal Hospital.
Harris was arrested as part of the Operation Yewtree investigation following the Jimmy Savile sex abuse sand and was eventually charged in August 2014.
He was found guilty of several counts of indecent assault dating to the 1970s and 1980s involving four girls between 14 and 16 years old.
Following his conviction and imprisonment, Harris was released on licence in May 2017.
Born in Australia in 1930, Harris became an award-winning artist and champion swimmer in his teens, before moving to England in 1952 to initially continue his art studies.
He was given a regular cartoon drawing slot on children's show Jigsaw the following year, and was soon juggling a TV presenting career with a musical one, writing and performing songs and playing the stylophone and didgeridoo.
Harris worked with the likes of Kate Bush and painted an official portrait of the Queen in 2005. As recently as 2012, he was the compere of the Diamond Jubilee Concert, and had racked up a number of major awards including a CBE and Officership in the Order of Australia.
But all these honours were revoked after his conviction and imprisonment, and his credits and vocal performances removed from Bush's records.
A two-part TV documentary Rolf Harris: Hiding in Plain Sight outlining his crimes was broadcast only days ago.
