Rolf Harris' cause – and date – of death confirmed
Rolf Harris’ cause of death has been revealed following the announcement of his passing after a battle with neck cancer.
While the information was made public on May 23, his death certificate states he died several weeks ago.
On May 11, it was speculated that Harris was gravely ill after an ambulance was spotted outside his UK home.
However, it wasn’t until May 23 that his death was confirmed.
The date of his death on the certificate was listed as May 10, one day before the ambulance was seen.
The cause of death was listed as squamous cell carcinoma of neck – neck cancer – and “fragility of old age”.
It was first revealed in late 2022 that Harris had been severely ill and struggled to communicate with people.
The gap between the date of his passing and his death certificate allowed the family to hold a funeral for Harris and cremate him away from the public eye.
In a short statement released by his family, they said Harris “died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest”.
Harris lived with his wife of 65 years, Alwen Hughes, 91, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Both needed round the clock care.
Private investigator and author William Merrit told the Daily Mail Harris was gravely ill when he saw him in 2022.
“Rolf has been very sick. When I saw him he was able to speak to me. He was with it, but he was obviously unwell,” he said.
A neighbour also shared Harris’ health had declined after the death of his poodle, Bumble in 2022.
“Only carers and nurses, who care for him 24 hours, come and go. I’m told he can’t eat anymore,” they said.
Harris was born in 1930 in Bassendean, in Perth’s north east.
He was a champion swimmer in his youth before moving to London in the early 50s’, where he studied art.
After getting early gigs working as a performer and illustrator for the BBC and ITV, he rose to fame for his art and music.
In 2005, Queen Elizabeth sat for a portrait with him.
Harris received several awards and honours, most of which were taken away. He had been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1968 and was appointed to the Order of Australia (AM), where he later advanced to Officer (AO) in 2012.
He was thrust into the spotlight in 2013 after being arrested as part of a UK police investigation into a string of sexual offences. He was also accused of taking indecent images of children.
He stood trial in June 2014 and was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault against four teenage girls between 1968 and 1986, one of which was later appealed. He was sentenced to jail for five years and nine months.
Harris was released from Stafford Prison in England’s midlands in mid-2017 after three years behind bars and was rarely spotted in public afterwards.
He stood trial again in mid-2017 for separate cases of sexual assault, involving seven complainants aged between 12 and 27 at the time of the alleged incidents. He was found not guilty on three counts and was cleared after the jury failed to reach a verdict on four other counts.
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