Jerry Springer, the legendary talk show host and former mayor of Cincinnati, has passed away at the age of 79 (WLWT). TMZ reported that Jerry Springer was one of the most influential and controversial figures in TV history (TMZ). He was also a broadcaster, author, politician, journalist, actor, lawyer, and host of a daytime show so outrageous he once apologized by… (NPR).
Jerry Springer was famous for his 27 years as host of “The Jerry Springer Show”, where the line between reality and entertainment was often blurred (NBC News). The show ran for nearly three decades and became a cultural phenomenon, defining the American ’90s, and predicting our current moment (The Atlantic).
Before becoming a talk show host, Jerry Springer was a former Cincinnati news anchor and mayor (Variety). He presided over the controversial and extremely profitable talk show and defined himself as a “trash TV” host. He also served as a member of the Cincinnati city council, mayor of Cincinnati, and was even considered as a Democratic nominee for governor of Ohio in the 1980s (NPR).
Jerry Springer’s cause of death was confirmed as pancreatic cancer, and his longtime friend Rabbi Sandford Kopnick exclusively told PEOPLE that the famed talk show host ‘didn’t have cancer for very…’ (People).
Jerry Springer will be remembered as a larger than life figure who brought his own unique brand of entertainment to audiences across America. His influence on the talk show industry and popular culture as a whole is undeniable, and his legacy will be felt for years to come.
