Convicted paedophile and disgraced former entertainer Rolf Harris was cremated at a small funeral service and his death was kept a secret for almost a fortnight after his health declined in the last year.
Harris was jailed in 2014 on 12 counts of indecently assaulting four women and girls dating back as far as the late 1960s. He never apologised to his victims.
The Australian-born artist's death was confirmed last night, with his family stating shortly after the news had not been made public to ensure he could have a dignified funeral.
"This is to confirm that Rolf Harris recently died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest," the family said in a statement.
"They ask that you respect their privacy. No further comment will be made."
Harris died of neck cancer and "frailty of old age" at his home in Bray in Berkshire, south-east England, on May 10, according to his death certificate seen by the UK's Press Association.
"We can confirm [the death] has been registered today (Tuesday night AEST)," a Maidenhead registrar told 9News.com.au.
'You have shown no remorse for your crimes': Harris jailed
Once one of Australia and the UK's most well-known entertainers, Harris was jailed for five years and nine months in 2014 by a judge who said he took advantage of the trust placed in him due to his celebrity status.
Justice Nigel Sweeney said Harris "clearly got a thrill from committing the offences whilst others were present or nearby" and the abuse "had a significant adverse effect" on the victims.
"You have shown no remorse for your crimes at all," Sweeney said.
"Your reputation lies in ruins, you have been stripped of your honours, but you have no-one to blame but yourself."
The case was retried for three of the undecided offences, but the jury remained unable to reach a verdict.
The prosecution decided against another trial, and Harris returned to his home near London.
Honours and decades-long career in entertainment before arrest
Harris was born in Perth's eastern suburbs in 1930 and had been an award-winning swimmer as a teenager.
He worked as a teacher and made several unsuccessful attempts at art school before launching his television career with a slot on a BBC show in 1952.
The artist and musician became well known for children's television shows such as Rolf's Cartoon Time and Animal Hospital.
He had a number of hits in the 1960s and achieved international fame with novelty songs such as Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport and Two Little Boys, almost always accompanied by his famous wobble board.
Harris went on to enjoy a 60-year career as a successful television presenter, songwriter and artist, increasingly making his home in England.
There he reached such heights that he was given the chance to paint an 80th birthday portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 and starred in her Diamond Jubilee outside Buckingham Palace in 2012.
But eventually, the abuse he committed caught up with him.
Allegations against Harris were probed by Operation Yewtree, investigating allegations of decades-long abuse by public figures, including the late UK TV entertainer Jimmy Savile.
He was first interviewed by officers in November 2012 but wasn't arrested until March the following year.
He was charged in August 2013.
It was not until 2014 that he was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of 12 counts of indecent assault from 1968 to 1986.
Prosecutors said he had a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality who used his fame to exploit his victims.
Among the victims was a friend of Harris' daughter, who claimed he molested her when she was 13 to 19.
Harris had said their relationship was consensual, and his relatives and friends supported him throughout the trial.
But a jury convicted him of all charges, and a judge sentenced him to five years and nine months in prison.
Harris was reportedly spat on by another prisoner and transferred elsewhere, before being stripped of his Order of Australia honours in 2015.
The Queen also stripped him of his British titles of Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE) of the Order of the British Empire.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, which had described Harris as "one of the world's most iconic entertainers" said it would withdraw his fellowship.
- Reported with CNN and Associated Press.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvd29ybGQvcm9sZi1oYXJyaXMtZGllcy1jb252aWN0ZWQtcGFlZG9waGlsZS1hbmQtZm9ybWVyLWVudGVydGFpbmVyLWRlYWQtYXQtOTMvYzE4NGNlYjEtODI5Zi00ODkxLWE4MmQtYTRjYWJlNTZmMDMw0gEA?oc=5
2023-05-24 02:48:04Z
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