Jimmy Savile, a longtime British broadcaster known for his eccentric personality and devotion to pop music, died October 29, 2011, at his home in northern England. He was 84.

Recognized throughout Britain for ubiquitous cigar, flashy tracksuits and gold jewelry, Savile was best known as host of the BBC music series Top of the Pops.

He also hosted the series Jim’ll Fix It for nearly 20 years. On the show, he responded to children’s letters by arranging for their wishes to be realized.

Born in Leeds on October 31, 1926, Savile worked in a coal mine as a teenager before drawing on love of music to become a popular radio disc jockey.

He claimed to have been the first DJ in the world to use two turntables, which eventually became a standard component of dance music.

In addition to his influence on music culture, Savile was dedicated to philanthropy and received a knighthood for his charity fundraising.

He often ran marathons to raise money helped to raise more than $32 million to establish a national spinal injuries center at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in southern England.

Savile, who never married, lived alone in his native Leeds, and preserved part of his home as shrine to his late mother.

In 2000, filmmaker Louis Theroux released the documentary When Louis Met…Jimmy, which offered viewers a look into Savile’s private life.