Celebrity

Rolf Harris Has Died Aged 93

Harris, aged 93, had previously achieved significant fame in the UK, but his status plummeted when he was imprisoned for exploiting his celebrity status to manipulate and harm young women.

The shamed performer received a prison sentence for committing sexual assaults against underage girls, including one who happened to be a childhood friend of his own daughter.

Despite vehemently refuting all allegations, Harris was found guilty in a widely publicized trial.

During the trial, the judge stated that Harris had misused his fame and didn't demonstrate any regret for what he had done.

In 2014, he was found guilty of child abuse and was given a prison term of five years and nine months.

According to MailOnline, Harris had been battling neck cancer since he was released from prison six years ago and was in poor health.

However, the specific cause of his death has not been revealed.

Before his death, Harris had been living in seclusion with his 91-year-old wife, Alwen, in the village of Bray, England.

According to reports, the TV presenter originally from Australia rarely left his house and relied on caregivers and nurses for daily assistance.

One of his neighbors informed The Daily Telegraph: "Only carers and nurses, who care for him 24 hours, come and go. I'm told he can't eat anymore."

A private investigator, author, and former police officer named William Merritt, who wrote the book 'Rolf Harris: The Truth Behind the Trials', expressed difficulty in understanding the fallen entertainer.

Speaking to The Mirror, Merritt stated: "As far as his health goes, yes, he is very ill. But, Rolf keeps going. He's still around but he's not well at all."

Merritt also mentioned that Harris enjoyed being alone because he wasn't fond of children and found their noise bothersome.

MailOnline tried to contact Harris' daughter, Bindi, aged 59, and her husband to obtain their comments, but they declined to provide any.

According to a family friend who spoke to the news outlet, Bindi "has nothing to say about her father."

Harris, originally from Western Australia, became famous in the 1950s with songs like 'Two Little Boys' and 'Jake the Peg'.

In the 1960s and 1970s, he began hosting TV shows such as Animal Hospital.

However, things took a turn in 2012 when Harris was arrested as part of the Operation Yewtree investigation, which happened after the Jimmy Savile scandal.

During his trial, which started in May 2014, prosecutors argued that the entertainer had two contrasting sides, like a "Jekyll and Hyde" character.

Just a few days before his death, an ITV documentary called "Hiding in Plain Sight" was released. The documentary delves into the rise and fall of this widely celebrated figure.