Rolf Harris

Harris was arrested in 2013, as a tactic of the ‘Operation Yewtree’, an investigation run by the UK Police to take sexual offenders to task. Though he was granted bail, he has been arrested on several occasions, the count of allegations against him, growing each time.

On June 30, 2014, Rolf Harris was found guilty of sexual abuse of twelve girls, aged between eight and nineteen. He was sentenced to prison, not just for these accusations, but also for viewing child pornographic images.

Rolf Harris was born to Cromwell and Agnes Margaret in Perth, Australia, on March 30, 1930, and was raised in the Bassendean suburb.

He completed his elementary education from the 'Perth Modern School' in the Subiaco suburb. Rolf later pursued his bachelors' degree in Arts from the 'University of Western Australia'. He also trained in education at the 'Claremont Teachers' College', which is presently known by the name 'Edith Cowan University'.

As a young man, he had varied interests, including painting, writing, and swimming. Over a period of 4-5 years, he had won several state swimming championships in Western Australia.

In 1952, he settled down in England, and began studying art at the 'City and Guilds of London Art School'.

Soon, in 1953, Rolf was employed by 'BBC' to feature in a programme called 'Jigsaw', where he would have to paint cartoons for ten minutes for children viewers.

The next year, he made his appearance on the show 'Whirligig', aired on 'BBC'. Harris created the character, 'Willoughby', who would perform his own animated antics on a drawing canvas, till the moment when he was erased.

Apart from 'BBC', the entertainer also appeared on the British television network, ‘ITV’, becoming the only artist to work for both broadcasting companies, by the year 1955.

In 1956, he worked on illusionist Robert Harbin's show, 'Paper magic', as an illustrator. The same year, he also appeared in the movie television feature film, 'Jim Whittington and His Sealion', as the Demon King.

Three years later, television was launched in Australia, and the TV star decided to go back to his hometown, to build his career there. He introduced a new children's programme and a revue, both of which were telecast on a weekly basis.

Harris, a singer, songwriter, TV anchor, and an artist, is most famous for his musical career, wherein he has produced a total of 48 singles and 32 albums. His best singles are 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport', and 'Two Little Boys', both of which have been record-breaking hits in the UK, Australia, and Ireland.