Rolf Harris, an Australian entertainer, and convicted sex offender has died at the age of 93. The news of his passing was confirmed to the PA News Agency by a registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall, as per <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60393842" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC News</a>. The Australian-born children's entertainer was diagnosed with neck cancer in October, eventually causing him to lose the ability to talk or eat and requiring round-the-clock care at his Berkshire home in the UK, the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11278229/Rolf-Harris-gravely-sick-neck-cancer-UK-paedophile-no-longer-speak.html">Daily Mail</a> reported at the time. Once a beloved television personality - who made Australia proud with his memorable 1960 hit song 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport' - Harris had his reputation soured in 2014 due to allegations that he sexually assaulted several women and girls. <img class="wp-image-1263171896 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/10/EAG0X0-scaled.jpg" alt="Rolf Harris" width="2560" height="1729" />[[imagecaption|| Once a beloved television personality - who made Australia proud with his memorable 1960 hit 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport' song - Harris had his reputation soured in 2014 due to sexual assault allegations. Credit: Mark Thomas / Alamy]] The disgraced star was released from the UK's Stafford Prison in 2017, after being convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault against four female victims - one as young as eight years old - during the 70s and 80s, per <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/behindthescenes/rolf-harris-has-cancer-and-is-gravely-sick-while-under-24-hour-care/news-story/a20042190b09752421d92ec082e35fc1">News Corp Australia</a>. He served just three years. He was rarely seen after his release - deciding to live a more reclusive life in the village of Bray with his wife, Alwen Hughes, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11278229/Rolf-Harris-gravely-sick-neck-cancer-UK-paedophile-no-longer-speak.html">Daily Mail</a> reported. They had been married for over 60 years, with Hughes choosing to remain by her husband's side in spite of the assault claims. Though he was born in Western Australia, Harris spent much of his life in the UK, where he rose to prominence, playing the wobble board and didgeridoo, as well as working as a TV presenter. As a talented painter, he was even commissioned by the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/12_december/19/portrait.shtml">BBC</a> to paint a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II for her 80th birthday. <img class="wp-image-1263171901 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/10/B3MMN2.jpg" alt="Rolf Harris" width="1871" height="1439" />[[imagecaption|| Despite being born in Western Australia, Harris has spent much of his life in the UK, where he rose to prominence - being known for playing the wobble board and didgeridoo, as well as working as a TV presenter. Credit: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy]] Eventually, Harris was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006, after being originally made a Member (MBE) in 1968 and then an Officer (OBE) in 1977. In 1989, he was also awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM). These honors were stripped after his assault accusations, per the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rolf-harris-stripped-of-australian-honours-by-governorgeneral-20150223-13m1r7.html">Sydney Morning Herald.</a> Harris had attempted to appeal the conviction, however, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/16/rolf-harris-has-one-indecent-assault-conviction-overturned">The Guardian</a> reported that this was denied. According to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11278229/Rolf-Harris-gravely-sick-neck-cancer-UK-paedophile-no-longer-speak.html">multiple reports</a>, Harris' health had failed significantly after the death of his poodle, Bumble, earlier this year. A neighbor of the former star had told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/behindthescenes/rolf-harris-has-cancer-and-is-gravely-sick-while-under-24-hour-care/news-story/a20042190b09752421d92ec082e35fc1">The Daily Telegraph</a> that only nurses and carers were coming in and out of Harris' house during the last few weeks of his life. While Harris never spoke publicly after his 2017 release from prison, he did make a statement in a recently published book - Rolf Harris: The Defence Team's Special Investigator Reveals the Truth Behind the Trials. In it, the 93-year-old had stated: "I understand we live in the post truth era and know few will want to know what really happened during the three criminal trials I faced – it's easier to condemn me and liken me to people like [Jimmy] Saville and [Gary] Glitter." "I was convicted of offences I did not commit in my first trial. That is not just my view but the view of the Court of Appeal who overturned one of my convictions. I had already served the prison sentence by the time of the appeal. It is difficult to put into words the injustice that I feel," he added. <h6>Featured image credit: Mark Thomas / Alamy</h6>

Rolf Harris has died at the age of 93

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