When many people think of Jerry Springer, they imagine an audience on TV chanting, "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!" followed by a segment on some eyebrow-raising topic. Infidelity, love triangles, and other familial transgressions were often discussed on the daytime talk show—and sometimes the segments resulted in fistfights among guests. But at the end of each episode, Jerry would remind viewers, "Take care of yourself and each other."
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The Jerry Springer Show ran from 1991 to 2018, but in recent years, Jerry had taken a step back from the spotlight, although he did appear on The Masked Singer and Dancing With the Stars and starred in the court show Judge Jerry, among other gigs. Tragically, though, the beloved TV personality died on April 27, 2023. Let's take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding his death and the accomplishments during his lifetime.
Jerry Springer died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
A spokesperson for Jerry confirmed that the TV personality died peacefully at his home near Chicago on the morning of April 27, per TMZ. According to a spokesperson, Jerry had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months prior. His health rapidly deteriorated during the week leading to his death.
Jerry is survived by one daughter, whom he shares with his ex-wife.
Jerry is survived by his only child, daughter Katie Springer (born in 1976), whom he shares with his ex-wife. The talk show host was married to Micki Velton for almost 20 years before they divorced in 1994. During an interview with Bethenny Frankel, Jerry explained that his daughter inspired him to compete on Dancing With the Stars so that he could learn the waltz and dance with her at her wedding.
Many were surprised to learn that Jerry Springer was once the mayor of Cincinnati.
Although Jerry Springer became a household name for his over-the-top talk show, some fans weren't aware of his political past. Jerry notably served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1977, according to PBS. He had an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1970 and was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971—until he resigned in 1974 due to a probe involving his hiring of prostitutes. In 1975, however, he won back his council seat. More recently, in 2017, Jerry unsuccessfully ran for governor of Ohio.
Tributes poured in for Jerry in the wake of his death.
The official Jerry Springer Instagram page posted a photo of the late host alongside the message, "'Take care of yourself and each other.' – Jerry Springer. In loving memory, 1944 – 2023."
Meanwhile, plenty of celebrities and regular folks alike took to Twitter to share clips from their favorite Jerry Springer moments. "One of the funniest episodes on Jerry Springer Show," one person tweeted alongside a clip of an audience member insulting a transgender woman who then had an epic comeback. "Jerry Springer knew how to make the funniest scripts. RIP."
Another Twitter user declared, "Only Jerry Springer could orchestrate something like this," also posting a clip of a woman confessing to her boyfriend that she slept with his friend—only for her boyfriend to reveal that it was all part of a bet he knew about.
Jerry leaves behind a lasting legacy.
Between dancing and singing competition shows, breaking up fistfights on his daytime talk show, and getting involved in politics, it's obvious that Jerry made an impact on countless lives. Family friend and spokesman Jene Galvin summed it up perfectly in a statement to People. "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," he told the publication.
Our thoughts are with Jerry's family, friends, and longtime fans during this difficult time.
