The flamboyant, talented, and immensely popular disk jockey and television host Jimmy Savile passed away at the age of 84 at his home in Leeds today, and the world is a little bit less colorful as a result.
Savile, who, after receiving a knighthood often went by the monkier “Sir Jimmy,” was an omnipresent figure on British radio and television airwaves from the 1960s through the 80s. His legacy doesn’t stop there, however: the entertainer was also a committed philanthropist, raising millions of pounds for charities, and raised 20 million for the creation of the National Spinal Injury Centre alone. In his lifetime, his charitable efforts topped the £40 million mark.
Rock royalty showered his family with condolences, as expected, but so did the more traditional sort of royalty: “The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall,” read a statement released by Prince Charles’ Clarence House, “are saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile’s death and their thoughts are with his family at this time.” The music world will miss him, but hey – if you’ve got to leave the planet, doing so at a ripe old age with a rich legacy of charitable work and a bevy of A-list friends isn’t too bad.