Celebrity deaths in 2023: Jerry Springer, controversial TV host and politician

Jerry Springer died April 27th, 2023 at his home in Chicago after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 79 years old.

Springer was born in London, England in a subway station that had been repurposed as a bomb shelter during World War II. His parents found refuge in England during the Holocaust.

At the age of 4, Jerry and his family moved to the United States and made a home in Queens. At an early age, he showed a keen interest in politics.

In 1965, Springer obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Tulane University. He later attended Northwestern University School of Law and graduated in 1968.

In 1970, Springer ran as a Democrat for a seat in U.S. Congress but was unable to beat the republican incumbent. A year later, he was elected as a city councillor for the city of Cincinnati however, his service was short lived when he stepped down from his position in 1974 after admitting to having solicited a prostitute.

Springer returned to Cincinnati city council in 1975 and from 1977-1978, served as mayor. In 1981, he would unsuccessfully seek the nomination for Ohio Governor.

During his years at Tulane University, he created a radio show that he would continue to run even while acting as the Mayor of Cincinnati. He was hired as a political reporter for WLWT and then became their primary news anchor and managing editor.

During his time as a very successful news anchor, Springer helped develop his famous catchphrase which would follow him to his time on the ‘Jerry Springer’ show. Following a thoughtful commentary, Springer would use this phrase to end each show.

Springer’s television show began in 1991 as a political talk show. The show shifted focus in in order to attract more viewers and boost ratings. A once serious and intellectual show was reimagined as a tabloid talk show where guests would air grievances and personal secrets.

The show tended to cover topics often related to human sexuality and relationships. Shocking reveals were a staple, stirring up loud audience reactions, and often physical altercations between guests.

In one more shocking episode, a story about a man who married a horse was featured. Despite handling many tough topics insensitively or without an ounce of political correctness, the show remained a favourite and at times enjoyed more viewers than Oprah Winfrey.

Following the end of the ‘Jerry Springer’ show, the ‘Judge Jerry’ show was created with Springer acting as the judge in this court-based reality show. He would hear cases from everyday citizens before rendering a verdict for the cameras. The show started off with very high ratings however, viewership dwindled, and the show was cancelled following its third season.

When not producing his own successful talk show, Springer found time to appear in television and movies. His film and television credits are many however, his appearance in ‘Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me’ was a fan favourite of the 1990s. He also had roles in episodes of ‘Married With Children,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ and ‘The Masked Singer.’

Jerry Springer married his wife Micki Velton in 1973 and they divorced in 1994. They shared a daughter, Katie Springer, who was born in 1976. Katie was born legally blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. It was Katie who inspired Jerry to become a contestant on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ The father and daughter would go on to dance the waltz that he learned on show for their father-daughter wedding dance at Katie’s wedding.

There is no doubt that the ‘Jerry Springer’ show was innovative and brought something new to television by offering a peek into the unusual and sometimes unbelievable lives of strangers. Thanks to Springer, reality TV knows no limits.

Whether or not you are a fan of his iconic trashy television show, Jerry Springer’s contribution to popular culture will be forever embedded in the minds and households of regular people across the world.