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Rolf Harris

Rolf Harris was an Australian-born entertainer, musician, artist, and television presenter who became widely known in Britain and Australia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rolf Harris was an Australian-born entertainer, musician, artist, and television presenter who became widely known in Britain and Australia. In 2014, he was convicted in the United Kingdom of multiple counts of indecent assault and sentenced to prison; one conviction was later quashed on appeal. He died in 2023 at the age of 93.

Early life and career

Rolf Harris was born in Australia in 1930 and later built a major career as a performer, artist, and television personality. He became especially familiar to British audiences through entertainment and children’s programming.

Criminal case and conviction

Harris was investigated under Operation Yewtree and tried in 2014 for historic sexual offences. He was convicted of multiple indecent assaults involving four victims, with offences dating from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Sentence and aftermath

He received a prison sentence of five years and nine months and was released on licence in 2017. Following the conviction, he lost honours and much of his media catalogue was removed from public rotation.

Death

Harris died in 2023 at the age of 93. Reports stated that he died in Berkshire, England.

Key facts

  • Rolf Harris was an Australian-born entertainer with a long career in children's entertainment, music, television, and visual art.
  • He was convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of indecent assault against four female victims, as part of Operation Yewtree.
  • He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison and released on licence in 2017.
  • One conviction was later overturned as unsafe.
  • His honours were removed and his television work was largely withdrawn from circulation after the conviction.
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Canadian context

Rolf Harris was widely known to Canadian audiences through imported television entertainment and music, and his conviction was covered in Canadian news as part of broader reporting on historical sexual abuse cases involving public figures.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Rolf Harris?
Rolf Harris was an Australian-born entertainer, musician, artist, and TV presenter who became famous in Britain and Australia.
What was Rolf Harris convicted of?
He was convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of indecent assault against four female victims.
What sentence did Rolf Harris receive?
He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.
Was any of his conviction overturned?
Yes. One conviction involving an eight-year-old girl in Portsmouth was later overturned as unsafe.
When was Rolf Harris released from prison?
He was released on licence in 2017 after serving nearly three years.
When did Rolf Harris die?
He died on 10 May 2023 at the age of 93.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Harris
    Supports: Birth date, career overview, conviction, sentence, release, and overturned conviction.
  2. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28163593
    Supports: Conviction, sentence length, and offences involved.
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63177779
    Supports: Death, conviction context, and appeal outcome.
  4. Judiciary of England and Wales — https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/sentencing-remarks-mr-j-sweeney-r-v-harris1.pdf
    Supports: Official sentencing remarks and sentence length.
  5. Sky News — https://news.sky.com/story/rolf-harris-convicted-paedophile-who-used-his-fame-to-groom-young-girls-dies-aged-93-12669634
    Supports: Death, age, and summary of conviction and release.