Rolf Harris was an Australian-British entertainer and former television personality, musician, singer, and visual artist. Harris gained fame through his television appearances in the United Kingdom, where he hosted various programs, including "The Rolf Harris Show" and "Rolf on Saturday OK!" during the 1960s and 1970s.
His death was confirmed by a registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall on May 23. The cause of death is not yet known.
Harris was known for his friendly and jovial personality, as well as his artistic abilities. He was skilled in playing the didgeridoo, a traditional Australian instrument, and often incorporated it into his musical performances. Harris also became well-known for his unique painting style, which involved using unusual objects, such as a large paint roller or his hands, to create distinctive patterns and textures in his artwork.
Unfortunately, Rolf Harris's reputation was marred by a series of legal issues. In 2014, he was convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault against underage girls, dating back to the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. As a result, he was sentenced to imprisonment and subsequently had his membership in the Order of Australia revoked.
Rolf Harris's criminal convictions and the associated controversy significantly impacted his public image and career.
In 2017 the disgraced entertainer had one of 12 indecent assault convictions overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Three judges in London ruled that the conviction was “unsafe”.
But they rejected applications by Harris, then 87, from Bray, Berkshire, to challenge 11 other indecent assault convictions.
The artist and musician was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at London’s Southwark Crown Court in June 2014, 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.
Harris, a family favourite for decades, was jailed for five years and nine months after being convicted of assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986.
The Australian-born television presenter was been released from that sentence.
The prosecution did not seek a retrial on the one count and the judges agreed that a further trial would not be in the public interest.
