On Thursday, Legendary TV talk show host, Jerry Springer, died peacefully at home after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 79 years old. According to TMZ, Jerry’s family confirmed that he died at his home in Chicago.
Prior to his broadcasting career, as a political reporter / commentator, Springer was the mayor of Cincinnati and a political campaign adviser to Robert F Kennedy. He reportedly possessed a sincerely fun effervescent persona, was well liked, on and off the microphone, and made reaching into peoples’ lives look very easy.
“The Jerry Springer Show” that he hosted for twenty-seven years, starting in 1991, became a byword for TV performance in the process, both at home in the U.S. and around the globe. Jene Galvin, a friend of Springer’s and spokesman for the family, in a statement said-
“He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.” adding “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, Friend of Springer’s and Spokesman For The Family
AP reportedly shared that at the height of its’ popularity, “The Jerry Springer Show” was a ratings powerhouse and a U.S. cultural phenomenon synonymous with constant surprises and garish drama. Best known for expletive-filled arguments and chair-throwing, the talk show was a favorite American diversion, over its almost 30-year run. The show ended in 2018, after more than 4,000 episodes.
“A fulfilled life doesn’t point to the number of years, awards, wealth and followers someone amassed for himself, but the number of faces that smiled because of him.”
-Michael Bassey Johnson