Rolf Harris, a once-beloved kids’s TV character whose status and profession took a nosedive when he was convicted of sexually assaulting younger women, has died. He was 93.
Harris “died peacefully surrounded by household and mates,” his household stated Tuesday in a press release obtained by the Related Press. No trigger or location of dying was given.
Harris was an Australian entertainer and former BAFTA fellow finest identified for youths’ packages, together with “Rolf’s Cartoon Time” and “Animal Hospital,” that aired in Britain and Australia. He was additionally a people singer who recorded hit songs resembling “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” and “Two Little Boys.”
In 2013, Harris was arrested in Britain in reference to sexual abuse allegations. A 12 months later, he was discovered responsible of a dozen counts of indecent assault on 4 younger women in assaults relationship way back to the Nineteen Sixties.
Among the many victims was a good friend of Harris’ daughter. Harris was discovered responsible of molesting his daughter’s good friend from age 13 to 19 after he tried to argue that their relationship was consensual. A choose sentenced Harris to 5 years and 9 months in jail.
In Might 2017, Harris was launched on license from a jail in England and cleared of 4 unrelated intercourse offenses that he had denied. Quickly after, the Court docket of Appeals overturned one of many 12 indecent-assault convictions.
Harris not appeared on TV after his conviction, which led the Orders of the British Empire and Australia to rescind a number of honors that they had bestowed upon him. The British Academy of Movie and Tv Arts additionally revoked his fellowship.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
