Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris – Life, Career, and Controversy
Rolf Harris (born March 30, 1930) was an Australian entertainer—painter, singer, television presenter—whose once-celebrated career ended in disgrace after criminal conviction. Explore his rise, artistry, controversies, and enduring questions of legacy.
Introduction
Rolf Harris was a multifaceted Australian entertainer whose career spanned art, music, television, and performance. For decades, he was a beloved figure in Australia and the UK, known for his whimsical painting routines, novelty songs, and charming on-screen persona. Yet his reputation was irreversibly damaged in later years when he was convicted of sexual assault. His life story is thus one of talent, success, fall, and a complicated legacy.
Early Life and Family
Rolf Harris was born March 30, 1930 in Bassendean, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth. His parents, Agnes Margaret (née Robbins) and Cromwell “Crom” Harris, were Welsh emigrants. He was named after “Rolf Boldrewood,” the pseudonym of an Australian novelist admired by his mother.
As a youth, he demonstrated early talent in painting. At age 16, his self-portrait was accepted into an Archibald Prize exhibition in Sydney. He attended Bassendean State School and Perth Modern School, then later earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia and a Diploma of Education from Claremont Teachers’ College. In his youth he was also a competitive swimmer: in the late 1940s and early 1950s he won state titles and was Australian junior backstroke champion.
Youth, Education, and Early Artistic Endeavors
In the early 1950s, Harris moved to London to pursue art and creative work. He enrolled at the City and Guilds of London Art School around 1952. Soon he began to appear on BBC television in short segments drawing cartoons for children’s shows, combining visual art with performance.
From early on, Harris blended art and entertainment. He drew cartoon figures (e.g. the character “Willoughby”) live on screen, sometimes interacting with them, and would then transform blank canvases into complete images by the end of his routine—a theatrical reveal that became a hallmark of his style.
Career and Achievements
Rise to Prominence in TV, Music & Art
In 1953, Harris began working for the BBC in children’s television, combining drawing, storytelling, and performance. By 1954–55, he had segments on shows like Whirligig and Jigsaw, using his cartoons and puppet interaction. When commercial television launched in the UK (mid-1950s), Harris was notable for appearing on both the BBC and ITV—a rare dual presence.
In the late 1950s, he returned to Australia to take part in early Australian television programming, including children’s shows and local television variety shows. During his shows, he often painted live on large boards in front of audiences, frequently pausing to ask, “Can you tell what it is yet?”, before revealing the full painting.
On the musical front, Harris released “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”, which became an international hit (Australia, UK, U.S.). Another major hit was “Two Little Boys” (1969), which reached number 1 in the UK and Ireland. He was also known for novelty and comedic musical routines, and often used unusual instruments—such as the wobble board (which he is credited with popularizing) and the didgeridoo, along with the stylophone.
In television, his shows included The Rolf Harris Show (1967–1974), and later Rolf’s Cartoon Club, Rolf’s Cartoon Time, and Animal Hospital (1994–2003). He also produced art series like Rolf on Art and Star Portraits with Rolf Harris, combining art history, demonstration, and portrait painting.
A landmark commission was his official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, painted in 2005 at Buckingham Palace, which was unveiled in December that year. He also participated in large community art projects—for example, recreating John Constable’s The Hay Wain live with hundreds of contributors in 2004.
Over his lifetime, Harris released dozens of albums, singles, and performed in multiple music genres, art exhibitions, and TV roles.
Honors and Public Recognition
During his career, Harris received many honors and awards:
-
He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1968, advanced to Officer (OBE) in 1977, and further to Commander (CBE) in 2006.
-
He was also appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and later Officer (AO) in Australia.
-
He won art prizes early in his life, such as the Claude Hotchin prize for oil painting in 1949.
-
He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
-
He held honorary doctorates (e.g., from University of East London, Liverpool Hope University) that were later revoked after his conviction.
However, after his criminal conviction in 2014, many of these honors were rescinded or withdrawn by institutions.
Controversy, Legal Case & Fall from Grace
Operation Yewtree and Charges
In March 2013, Rolf Harris was arrested under Operation Yewtree, the British police investigation into historical sexual offences (notably linked to the Jimmy Savile scandal). He was questioned over multiple allegations of indecent assault on underage girls. In August 2013 he was formally charged with 12 counts of indecent assault relating to four victims, dating from 1968 to 1986.
Trial, Conviction, and Sentence
His trial began in May 2014 at Southwark Crown Court. On June 30, 2014, he was found guilty on all 12 counts of indecent assault. On July 4, 2014, he was sentenced to 5 years 9 months in prison. The sentencing judge remarked that his reputation was in ruins, that he showed no remorse, and that many of his honors would be stripped. Following the conviction, many of his public honors and awards were revoked, his TV shows were pulled from syndication, and his public image collapsed.
Later Legal Developments & Release
Harris appealed and also faced additional charges in 2016, but a retrial was ultimately not pursued. He was released on licence (parole) in 2017 after serving part of his sentence.
The conviction irrevocably tarnished his legacy and led to a reappraisal of his life and work.
Legacy, Influence & Ethical Complexity
Artistic & Entertainment Legacy
Before his fall, Rolf Harris had been a household name: a versatile performer combining art, music, television, and invention. His live painting routines, novelty songs, and on-screen warmth endeared him to generations. He pioneered blending visual art and television performance in ways many later entertainers drew upon. His use and promotion of the wobble board and didgeridoo in mainstream music expanded public exposure to these instruments and contributed to the novelty and uniqueness of his musical brand.
Reassessment and Moral Judgment
Because of his criminal conviction, Harris’s legacy is deeply controversial. Many broadcasters and institutions removed or suppressed his earlier work.
Art historians, cultural critics, and media scholars continue to debate how to separate—or whether one can separate—his artistic contributions from his personal misconduct.
His case raises broader questions about how society deals with creative figures who commit serious wrongdoing: about memory, redemption, erasure, and accountability.
Today, Harris is often cited as a cautionary emblem: that public adoration can mask hidden abuse, and that moral conduct must matter as much as creative output.
Notable Quotes & Catchphrases
Because of the moral burden attached to his legacy, quotes from Rolf Harris are less commonly celebrated today. Nevertheless, during his public career he was known for several catchphrases and quips:
-
“Can you tell what it is yet?” — his signature prompt as he painted on television, building suspense and engagement.
-
He sometimes joked during performances about the process of creation, engaging audiences in the reveal. (Less formal documented quotes exist in public record, as Harris’s later reputation overshadowed popular quotation anthologies.)
Because of the severity of his crimes and the public revulsion, most retrospective writings focus less on his pithy sayings and more on reconciling the dualities of talent and wrongdoing.
Lessons and Reflections
From Rolf Harris’s life, we may draw several reflections—some positive, many sobering:
-
Talent does not excuse morality.
Artistic skill and public acclaim cannot erase accountability. Even the most beloved public figure may harbor dark secrets. -
Public persona vs. private actions.
The contrast in Harris’s life—charming entertainer outwardly, convicted abuser privately—illustrates the danger of idolizing image without questioning character. -
Institutional responsibility.
Media organizations, broadcasters, and institutions that supported Harris face retrospective scrutiny for continuing to platform his work even as allegations mounted. -
Redemption, forgiveness, and limits.
Harris’s case challenges ideas of redemption: to what extent can we allow a return, how much restitution matters, and whether some acts preclude rehabilitation in the public sphere. -
Legacy is mutable.
A life’s memory is not static: new facts, revelations, and judgments can reframe how future generations perceive the person.
Conclusion
Rolf Harris’s life is a tragic and complex narrative of creative brilliance and profound moral failure. He transformed painting, television, and novelty music with a unique blend of showmanship and artistry. Yet his conviction for multiple counts of sexual assault irrevocably shattered his reputation and forced society to reckon with how we hold celebrities to account.
His story compels us to ask difficult questions: Can we separate art from the artist? Should we continue to engage with the work of those who have committed serious wrongdoing? In Rolf Harris’s case, the public verdict was clear—his honors revoked, his presence erased from many platforms, and his legacy recast under the shadow of his crimes.
Ultimately, his life stands as a cautionary tale: no matter how luminous one’s public shine, character and morality must not be ignored.