Celebrity News

Rolf Harris

Rolf Harris' final years from prison sentence to cause of death (Image: GETTY)

The deeply troubling story of disgraced Australian entertainer Rolf Harris has been laid bare in a compelling two-part documentary featuring previously unseen interviews with survivors. Speaking out publicly about their harrowing experiences for the very first time, the new Prime Video series gives a platform to his victims more than a decade after he faced numerous charges of indecent assault against children and teenage girls.

Starting with his childhood in Perth and subsequent rise to stardom in Australia, the series pulls back the curtain to reveal decades of abuse and manipulation that took place away from the public eye. A synopsis for this revelatory new release states: "More than a fallen celebrity story, it examines how charisma, institutional loyalty and cultural reverence allowed a predator to flourish and honours the resilience of those who refused to let his crimes be forgotten."

Rolf Harris

Decades worth of abuse is laid bare in Prime Video's new documentary (Image: ABC)

As one of the most shocking celebrity scandals of the 21st century comes under fresh scrutiny, viewers will be eager to learn more about Rolf Harris' final years, including his time behind bars and the circumstances of his death.

Is Rolf Harris still alive?

No, Harris passed away on 10th May 2023 at the age of 93.

He was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault against four female victims aged between eight and 19, and was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison on 4th July 2014. Harris served nearly three years of his sentence at HM Prison Stafford before being released on licence in 2017.

One of his convictions, relating to an eight year old fan in Portsmouth, was quashed as unsafe. His remaining 11 convictions were upheld despite Harris's attempts to challenge them on appeal.

Rolf Harris

Harris was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison (Image: GETTY)

Following his release, Harris spent his remaining years living in seclusion in Bray, Berkshire, alongside his wife Alwen Hughes, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The disgraced entertainer, who shunned public life, was rarely known to leave his property or even draw back the curtains. He was, however, once removed from the grounds of a primary school in 2019 by a headteacher who caught him waving at children.

From October 2022, Harris was reported to be battling neck cancer, requiring a feeding tube and having lost the ability to speak.

Alwen Hughes and Rolf Harris

His wife Alwen Hughes died in August 2024 (Image: ABC)

He passed away at his Bray home on 10 May 2023, though his death was not officially confirmed until almost a fortnight later, on 23 May.

The official cause of death listed on his birth certificate was neck cancer, alongside "frailty of old age".

Harris was cremated at a small, private ceremony before news of his death had been made public. His wife passed away aged 92 on 10 August 2024.

Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator is available to stream on Prime Video.


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