Short answers, pulled from the story.
Odoacer was a barbarian soldier and statesman from the Middle Danube who deposed the Western Roman child emperor Romulus Augustulus on the 4th of September 476 and ruled Italy until 493. His overthrow of Romulus Augustulus is traditionally understood as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire.
Odoacer's precise ethnic origins are disputed. Historians Penny MacGeorge and Bruce Macbain concluded he was likely half-Scirian and half-Thuringian. Ancient sources variously called him a Scirian, Rugian, Goth, or Thuringian, while his father Edeco was associated first with the Huns under Attila and then with the Sciri.
Odoacer led a revolt of Herulian, Rugian, and Scirian foederati troops who had been denied land grants by the Roman general Orestes. After Orestes was killed at Placentia, the Germanic forces proclaimed Odoacer rex on the 23rd of August 476. He then captured Ravenna and compelled Romulus Augustulus to abdicate.
Odoacer was addressed as rex, dux, and patrician. The Eastern Emperor Zeno granted him the title of patrician and authority to govern Italy as dux Italiae. The sole surviving document from his chancery, witnessed by the consul Basilius, records him using the title of king.
Odoacer governed with the cooperation of the Roman Senate, which gave him loyal support throughout his reign. He regularly appointed senators to the consulship and other prestigious offices, including Basilius, Decius, Venantius, Manlius Boethius, Symmachus, Sividius, and Cassiodorus. Under his reign, copper coins bearing the legend S(enatus) C(onsulto) were issued for the first time since the mid-3rd century.
Odoacer died on the 15th of March 493, ten days after Theodoric the Great entered Ravenna following a three-year siege. Theodoric invited him to a reconciliation banquet at the imperial palace of Honorius known as Ad Laurentum and struck him on the collarbone with a sword when a plan to have followers kill Odoacer went astray.