Jerry Springer, the longtime talk show host and onetime mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, has died at the age of 79 after a battle with cancer, according to a statement released by his family Thursday morning.
He hosted the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show for 27 Years. The show became known for its controversial and sensationalistic subject matter with people airing their dirty laundry, often resulting in the fist fights among the guests.
Cincinnati’s WLWT, where Springer was once a news anchor and commentator, reported Springer’s death this morning:
Jerry Springer, legendary talk show host and former mayor of Cincinnati, has died, according to a statement from his family. He was 79.
According to a family statement, Springer died peacefully Thursday at his home in suburban Chicago.
Outside of his famed chair-throwing, tabloid-style television show, Springer was also known for his political chops and background.
He entered politics with an unsuccessful congressional race in 1970. He was elected to Cincinnati Council the following year, resigned in disgrace three years later in a Northern Kentucky sex scandal, then was re-elected a year later, demonstrating his popular appeal despite the fresh baggage.
He served as Cincinnati’s 56th mayor in 1977.
His lone attempt at higher office came in 1982, when he took a run at the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor and lost.
More from TMZ:
Jerry Springer, one of the most influential and controversial figures in TV history, has died … TMZ has confirmed.
Jerry hosted the smash hit syndicated talk show “The Jerry Springer Show” for 27 years … and it was never a boring moment on the raucous and wild show — which was known for its outrageous guests who usually got into crazy fights as the audience cheered, “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!”
Before TV, he was a politician who ran a failed campaign for U.S. Congress in 1970, got elected to Cincinnati’s City Council in 1971 … and became the city’s mayor in 1977. He served one term.
But, Springer became a worldwide sensation with his show … which debuted in 1991. Most people won’t remember this, but when he started Jerry’s show focused on political issues. Of course, it eventually became the exact opposite … and a ratings smash.
Jerry’s show was so popular in the late ’90s, it even topped Oprah Winfrey’s in several cities. ‘Springer’ finally went off the air in 2018.
He made one more run in TV, with his courtroom show, “Judge Jerry,” which ran for 3 seasons.
Jerry’s last TV appearance came last season on “The Masked Singer” … where he performed as “The Beetle,” singing a Frank Sinatra classic.
We’re told his cancer battle got much worse about a month ago, and he finally had to stop working. He had been hosting a folk music show on a local radio station in Cincinnati.
He’s survived by his daughter Katie Springer and his older sister Evelyn.
