How did Rolf Harris die? Cause of death revealed (2024)

DISGRACED former TV star Rolf Harris died in May 2023, with his cause of death being confirmed shortly after.

The paedophile had served three years in prisonfrom 2014 to 2017 for a string of child sex attacks and died in disgrace.

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The shamed TV star died of cancer and old age at his home on May 10, according to his death certificate.

Harris, 93, “died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest”, his family said in a statement.

The death certificate also states plans for Harris' remains "to be cremated".

Itlists the causes of death as "metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of neck" and "frailty of old age".

Medical staff had been called to his sprawling £7million property in Bray, Berks.

As of October last year, the sick singer and artist wasreceiving round-the-clock care for neck cancer.

He could no longer talk due to his condition and had to be fed through a tube.

His death was confirmed today by registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall.

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Hefound fame in the 1960swith the release of his hit song Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.

And he became a UK TV star and national treasure, often appearing alongside fellowpaedo Jimmy Savile.

But his legacy ended in disgrace when he was investigated and ultimately convicted of indecent assault against four girls in 2014.

He was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment.

The paedo generally kept out of the public eye since his release in May 2017, having served three years of his sentence.

SICK CRIMES

The didgeridoo player - who coined the catchphrase “Can you tell what it is yet?” as he drew artwork on his shows - was so popular that the BBC commissioned him topaint a portrait of Queen ElizabethII in 2005.

But his fame turned to infamy in 2013 when he was arrested twice in connection withattacks on childrendating back to the 1980s.

He was also charged with four counts ofproducing indecent child images.

In June 2014, Harris was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault.

The crimes were committed against four girls - one of whom was aged just seven or eight.

His trial heard that one of the victims was a childhood friend of his daughter, and another a young autograph hunter.

Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said the celebrity had taken advantage of his celebrity status and shown "no remorse".

He was released from jail in May 2017 part-way through a re-trial on four accusations of indecent assault.

Later that year, Harris appeared at the Court of Appeal in London to try andoverturn his 2014 convictions, claiming jurors in the case were "poisoned" against him.

He had one conviction overturned following his appeal, but the other 11 remained.

KEEN ARTIST

He was last seen in2020 outside his home.

Brazen Harris maintained his original Berkshire estate and was often seen walking his dog nearby.

He was born on March 30, 1930, in Perth, Australia, to Welsh emigrants.

A keen artist from a young age, a self-portrait he painted was exhibited in the Art Gallery of New South Wales when he was just 16.

He was also a championship swimmer as a youngster and won a national competition before coming to England in 1953, aged 22, to study.

The pervert’s death comes after a new documentary revealed more details of his crimes and the disturbing double life he led.

During the police probe as part ofOperation Yewtreein 2012, the shamed presenter exhibited bizarre and "arrogant" behaviour.

In a Hiding in Plain Sight ITV documentary,Detective Sergeant Gary Pankhurstrevealed how Harris began singing his song Sun Arise while being interviewed under caution.

An unnamed detective, who was working alongside Gary, said: “The whole song all the way through, to Gary and myself.

“It was massively surreal.

“I can remember Gary and I looking at ourselves, kind of like, what do we do now?”

The vile paedo even wrote adisturbing song while behind bars - speaking of his "inner rage" in a chilling letter.

Following his conviction, Harris wasstripped of his CBEwhich he received after painting the late Queen's 80th birthday portrait. He was also stripped of his MBE and OBE.

Disturbing footage has alsoresurfaced of him joking with Jimmy Savile about keeping a young girl "safe".

Sickening scenes from Savile’s BBC showJim’ll Fix It also sees Harris snarl: "She is anxious to run away."

The child abusers appeared on screen together in the 1976 episode alongside a little girl who wanted to paint with Harris.

There is no suggestion the girl in the clip was abused by either Savile or Harris.

The programme detailed how Harris’ 60-year career came crashing down when a childhood pal of his only child, Bindi, - known as Victim A - came forward alleging Harris groomed her aged just 13.

A victim impact statement read out in court in 2014 said: "The attacks that happened have made me feel dirty, grubby and disgusting. The whole sordid saga has traumatised me.

"I have panic attacks and suffer from anxiety. The effects of the abuse have been with me for many years. I started drinking at the age of 14 to 15 years old.

"This was to block out the effects of what he was doing to me."

In 2019, Rolf Harris was seen breaking cover - walking on to the grounds of a primary school in 2019.

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He was told to leave by the head teacher of the school in Maidenhead, Berks.But not before he was able to wave at the assembled schoolchildren.

A witness, who took pictures of Harris stalking the grounds, said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing."

How did Rolf Harris die? Cause of death revealed (2024)
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