Jerry Springer Passes Away At 79 & Fans Thank Him For All The Laughs

Apr 28, 2023

Jerry Springer, the renowned television presenter, actor and former politician known for hosting the controversial talk show “The Jerry Springer Show,” has passed away at the age of 79.

His representatives said in a statement that the enduring television personality passed away in a suburb of Chicago on Apr. 27, 2023, following a “brief illness.”

“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,” People reported family friend and spokesman Jene Galvin as saying. He added, “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

Springer had a dramatic start to life almost immediately and was born on Feb. 13, 1944, in the London Underground tube station of Highgate while it served as a shelter from German aerial bombing during World War II. He migrated with his family to the United States when he was five years old and grew up in Queens, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University in New Orleans and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University, Chicago.

After completing law school, Springer worked as a campaign adviser to Robert F. Kennedy in his 1968 presidential campaign. Following Kennedy’s assassination, he was hired by a law firm in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1970, he ran for Congress as a Democrat but was defeated by the incumbent Republican, Donald D. Clancy.

Springer began his broadcasting career in Cincinnati in the early 1970s, working as a political commentator on local television and radio stations. In the mid-1980s, he was offered his own talk show, “The Jerry Springer Show,” which premiered in 1991.

It may be hard to believe, but Springer’s talk show actually started off focusing on political issues. However, after pivoting to covering stories of a more scandalous nature that involved a high level of human drama, “The Jerry Springer Show” picked up in the ratings and settled into its niche.

“The Jerry Springer Show” quickly became infamous for its controversial topics and outrageous guests. The show featured confrontational interviews, paternity tests and often violent confrontations between guests. Critics accused the show of exploiting vulnerable people for entertainment and glorifying dysfunctional behavior. Despite the controversy, the show became incredibly popular, with millions of viewers tuning in every day. At one point, it surpassed even the venerated “Oprah Winfrey Show” to top the ratings in some cities, reaching highs of 6.7 million viewers.

Jerry hosted “The Jerry Springer Show” for 27 seasons before it ended in July 2018. He also hosted several other shows, including “America’s Got Talent,” and debuted a courtroom-based reality show called “Judge Jerry” from 2019 to 2022. In addition to his television work, Springer appeared in several films and television shows, including “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and “The X-Files.”

Springer was also involved in politics throughout his career. In addition to his unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1970, he served as the mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978. He later ran for governor of Ohio in 1982 and for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in 2000 but was unsuccessful in both campaigns.

Springer was married once and left behind one daughter.

Throughout his career, Springer has been both celebrated and criticized for his work. Some saw him as a pioneer, pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable on television. Others viewed him as a purveyor of “trash TV,” exploiting vulnerable people for entertainment. Regardless of one’s opinion of his work, Springer clearly made a significant impact on popular culture and left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

Following his passing, The Guardian dubbed him “the man who changed US for better and worse,” while the BBC called him an “era-defining TV host” who shone a light on the “fringes of (American) society to a global audience.” Springer himself never shied away from the public’s sometimes dreary perception of his persona, describing himself on his Twitter bio as a “talk show host, ringmaster of civilisation’s end.”

As funeral arrangements were being made, Springer’s family called on the bereaved to show their love in different ways. “To remember Jerry, the family asks that in lieu of flowers you 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 in a statement.

Tributes also poured in for Springer on “The Jerry Springer Show” Instagram page, with comments flooding in from fans affected by his passing.

“That’s like a whole piece of my teenage years dying, thanks for all the laughs and being the voice of reason🤍 ‘JERRY JERRY JERRY’ will always be legendary,” one comment read, while another user said, “This show was a big part of my childhood and we will never have anything like the Springer show ever again.”

A third fan wrote:

“Thanks for all the laughter. Rest well Jerry.”

What are some of your favorite memories of watching Jerry Springer? Let us know and pass this on to friends and family so they can remember him fondly, too.