Popular and controversial TV presenter Jerry Springer has died. He was 79.
TMZ reports that according to a family spokesperson, Springer was battling a “brief illness” and died Thursday morning, peacefully at his home in the Chicago area.
Sources for the outlet indicate he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months ago and this week he took a turn for the worse. He’s survived by his daughter Katie Springer and his older sister Evelyn.
In his early career he was a politician. After a failed Congressional campaign, he ended up becoming mayor of Cincinnati in 1977 for one term.
Years later came “The Jerry Springer Show” which initially started out political and then turned popular as it focused on scandals as guests dealt with issues of adultery, paternity and more – often leading to physical fights.
The show got so popular that it beat Oprah Winfrey’s talkshow in several cities. He stuck with the show from its debut in 1991 to its end in 2018. He followed it up with the courtroom show “Judge Jerry” which ran for three seasons, and hosting “America’s Got Talent” for three years.
