Jerry Springer, Politician Turned Tabloid TV Host, Dies At 79

Former Cincinnati mayor and long-time television host, Jerry Springer, has died at 79 following a “brief illness,” at his Chicago home on Thursday morning. Springer’s long-time friend and rabbi confirmed his “sudden” illness to have been pancreatic cancer.

“Jerry’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,” Jene Galvin, a family friend and executive producer of Springer’s podcast, said in a statement. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2022

Earning a law degree from Northwestern Univesity in 1968, Springer began his political career in 1971 as a member of the Cincinnati City Council, before resigning in 1974. While he initially cited “very personal family considerations” as the reason for his resignation, he later admitted to having solicited sex workers and paying them in personal checks.

Springer’s political career was not put on hold for long, winning his seat back in the following year and serving as the 56^th mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 until 1978. He also continued practicing law throughout his political career, as a partner at the Grinker, Sudman & Springer law.

But despite an extensive political and legal background, Springer was most known for hosting his talk show, The Jerry Springer Show, which ran for 28 seasons from 1991 to 2018. The scandalous program featured countless outrageous arguments that escalated to physical confrontations that had to be stopped by the show’s security team. Springer was always very open about the salaciousness of his show, saying that he thinks it is “silly, crazy and has no redeeming social value other than an hour of escapism.”

“There is never anything on our show that hasn’t been on the front pages of newspapers in America. The only difference is that the people on my show aren’t famous,” Springer said in 2010, before adding that “it’s a show about craziness. I know that going in every day.”

Following the end of his talk show in 2018, Springer used his legal background to go on to star in the reality TV series Judge Jerry, which ran from 2018 to 2022. In addition to his roles as a lawyer, judge and talk show host, Springer also had a career in acting. His projects included Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, the 1998 rom-com Ringmaster and The Jerry Springer Podcast.

In their statement, Springer’s family asked friends and fans to “consider following his spirit and make a donation or commit to an act of kindness to someone in need or a worthy advocacy organization.”

“As he always said, ‘Take care of yourself, and each other,’” they said, concluding the statement.