A firm family favourite over decades, Rolf Harris entertained children and adults alike in living rooms up and down the country.
The Australian-born presenter, singer and artist was awarded a CBE for services to entertainment and the arts after he was commissioned to paint Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. His charity work and boundless enthusiasm whether on the stage or TV made him one of the UK's most beloved personalities.
But behind the quirky Aussie songs, wobbleboard and pet rescue shows lay a dark truth - one that would lead to his downfall in the full glare of a nation betrayed by his sexual offending.
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Harris - whose death aged 93 from neck cancer and 'frailty of old age' was confirmed today - was convicted of a series of indecent assaults in June 2014. He was jailed and lived out his life as a shunned recluse upon his release.
Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal, Chancellor of the University of Manchester, described him today as a 'paedophile who used his fame and power to groom young girls - and he never showed a moment's remorse'.
"His family may miss him, but his victims won't," he wrote.
Harris' string of indecent assaults included one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter’s friend over 16 years.
His death certificate - which was revealed today after it was filed at Maidenhead Town Hall, revealed he died on May 10 and according to reports, Harris has already been cremated. The certificate lists the causes of his death as 'metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of neck' and 'frailty of old age'.
He died at home in the village of Bray, Berkshire, where he is said to have remained receiving round-the-clock care for some time with his wife, Alwen Hughes.
A statement from his family, released through his solicitor, said: "This is to confirm that Rolf Harris recently died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest. They ask that you respect their privacy. No further comment will be made."
Born in Perth, Australia in 1930, Harris is said to have had a strict upbringing at the hands of his mother.
Moving to London at the age of 22, his early performances were known to mingle strange, obscure sounds in with traditional Aboriginal music together with the didgeridoo and accordion. The wobbleboard - which he invented - features on arguably his most popular and well-known song, 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport', although he did have a number one hit in 1969 with 'Two Little Boys'.
A year after moving to London he got a job sketching cartoons on children's television, work that continued through the 1950s while he performed nights, singing comedy songs with a piano accordion, in a club for Australian and New Zealander expatriates.
Harris used to be a household name for all the right reasons.
Sporting the catchphrase 'can you tell what it is yet?', he appeared on some of the biggest shows on TV, fronting BBC programmes including Animal Hospital and Rolf's Cartoon Club, and penning children's song 'Jake the Peg'. The entertainer soon became a national treasure, loved and trusted by millions.
But the once much-loved musician was jailed in 2014 for five years and nine months after being convicted of 12 assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986.
Sentencing Harris, Mr Justice Sweeney told him: "Your reputation lies in ruins. You have been stripped of your honours and you have no-one to blame but yourself."
In May 2017, he was formally cleared of four unconnected historical sex offences, which he had denied. Later the same year, one of the 12 indecent assault convictions was overturned by the Court of Appeal.
He remained out of the spotlight until 2019, when he walked on to the premises of a primary school in his home town, reportedly to talk to a sculptor working in the grounds. Harris left as soon as he was asked and the school said no pupils came into contact with him. No arrests were made.
Harris was released on licence from HMP Stafford on May 19 2017, less than three years after his sentence began. At the time, his was the biggest celebrity scalp to be claimed by detectives from high-profile sex crime investigation Operation Yewtree.
He was the second person convicted under the national inquiry, set up in the wake of abuse claims against late DJ and entertainer Jimmy Savile. In light of his conviction, Harris had his 2012 Bafta fellowship removed and was stripped of his CBE. He also had Australian honours taken away.
He was made an MBE in the 1960s, an OBE a decade later and a CBE in 2006 – the year after he painted the late Queen’s 80th birthday portrait.
It was unveiled at Buckingham Palace on December 19 2005. The portrait was exhibited at Buckingham Palace and Holyroodhouse, and was taken on a tour of public galleries throughout the UK but after his conviction, it disappeared.
The decision to revoke his CBE, which can be recommended by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to the Forfeiture Committee, must be approved by the sovereign.
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