US Talk Show Host Jerry Springer Passes Away at 79

Jerry Springer, a politician-turned-presenter best known for his controversial and often outrageous talk show, The Jerry Springer Show, has passed away at the age of 79. His family confirmed that he died peacefully on Thursday at his home in the Chicago area, following a brief illness.

Springer’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried, whether that was politics, broadcasting, or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word. A lifelong friend and spokesman for the family, Jene Galvin, said in a statement that he was irreplaceable and that memories of his intellect, heart, and humor will live on.

Born in Highgate tube station in north London in February 1944, Springer’s parents were German-Jewish refugees who were in the station sheltering from a German bombing raid during the Second World War at the time. He later moved to Queens, New York, with his parents and older sister at the age of four.

Springer studied political science at Tulane University in Louisiana and got a law degree from Northwestern University in Illinois before serving in the US Army Reserves. He went on to work as a political campaign adviser for Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign before joining a Cincinnati law firm and then being elected to city council.

A lifelong Democrat, Springer was mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978 and considered running for the Senate in 2003. He also considered running for governor of Ohio as recently as 2017 but decided against it.

Despite his success in politics, Springer is best known for his tabloid talk show, The Jerry Springer Show, which aired for 27 seasons and nearly 5,000 episodes from 1991 to 2018. The show, which often featured strippers, food-fights, and punch-ups, was once named the worst show in the history of television but proved to be ratings gold.

Critics often derided the show as low-brow TV and criticized its exploitative nature, but Springer always stood by his show, describing it as a rebellion against the elite in a world where only the rich and famous were considered worthy for screen time. Speaking to Sky News in 2019, Springer defended the show’s contributors, who he said were frequently dismissed as “trash,” saying he preferred to see them as “regular people involved in crazy situations.”

In addition to The Jerry Springer Show, Springer was a popular contestant on Dancing With The Stars in 2006 and hosted America’s Got Talent from 2007 to 2008. He also had other broadcast work, including the Judge Jerry Show, the Springer on the Radio Show, Baggage, the Jerry Springer Podcast, and until recently, a 60s folk music radio show in Cincinnati.

Springer leaves behind one daughter, Katie. His family is currently organizing a funeral service and memorial and has asked that instead of sending flowers, well-wishers “consider following his spirit and make a donation or commit to an act of kindness to someone in need or a worthy advocacy organization.”