Well-known talk show host, Jerry Springer has died. He was also the former mayor of Cincinnati. The 79-year-old passed away peacefully in his Chicago area home on Thursday, according to his family.
Jerry Springer’s Early Years
Born Gerald Norman Springer on Feb. 13, 1944, in London, England. At the age of 5, his family immigrated to New York. He graduated from Tulane University with a political science degree in 1965. Then, three years later, Springer earned a law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago.
Springer’s Political Career
After graduating from Northwestern University, he worked on the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy. Next, he embarked on his own political career by serving on the city council in Cincinnati, Ohio. However, he was forced to resign due to a controversy involving prostitution in 1974. In the following election, he was able to regain his seat.
In 1977, the citizens of Cincinnati elected Springer as their mayor. He only served for one year. Then, four years later, he made a failed attempt to be governor of Ohio.
New Avenues for Springer
Afterward, he turned his sights to TV journalism. A local TV station hired the aspiring reporter in the early 1980s. Later, he became an anchor, earning seven Emmy Awards for commentaries during his tenure. Next, Springer tried his hand at being a talk show host. In 1991, his production “The Jerry Springer Show” debuted.
Initially, the show focused on political issues causing it to struggle in rating the first two seasons. Subsequently, the show received a complete makeover. By the mid-1990s, its viewership skyrocketed with its controversial topics (such as adultery and incest), physical fights, profanity, and scantily clad guests drawing people in.
In 1998, Laura Morton’s book “Ringmaster!” was published — his autobiography. That same year, the talk show host starred in a Springer-esque movie also named “Ringmaster.”
His controversial show dubbed “trash TV” by many politicians was canceled in 2018. A year later, the host embarked on a new show called “Judge Jerry.”
RIP Jerry Springer
A family spokesperson stated the TV host battled a “brief illness” before his death. Furthermore, TMZ reports a source told them it was pancreatic cancer that had been diagnosed a few months ago.
Prior to his death, he had been a local radio station host on a folk music show which aired in Cincinnati. However, his ailment worsened a month ago and he had to stop working.
He is survived by his sister Evelyn and daughter Katie Springer. May he rest in peace.
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
TMZ: Jerry Springer Dead at 79
Britannica: Jerry Springer
WLWT5: Jerry Springer, legendary talk show host, dead at 79
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Inset Image Courtesy of Brett Weinstein‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
