Jerry Springer dies aged 79 Legendary talk show host passes away 'peacefully' at his Chicago home
- last year
Jerry Springer has died aged 79 just months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his family revealed on Thursday.
They asked fans to make charitable donations in his name after the TV host passed away 'peacefully' at his home in Chicago after his health took a turn for the worse.
Tributes have flooded in for the 'irreplaceable' talent, with his family adding: 'As he always said, take care of yourself, and each other'.
Appearing to hint at his illness, Springer said during an interview last year he wanted to retire while he was 'still healthy', following NBCUniversal canceling his latest show Judge Jerry. He added: 'I don't have to make a living. I want to enjoy life.'
Springer was known for hosting the smash hit 'The Jerry Springer Show' for 27 years, becoming America's guilty pleasure for wild and raucous TV moments.
He also had a wide-ranging political career, even becoming the mayor of Cincinnati in 1977 - and even considered a run for Ohio state governor.
Family spokesman Jene Galvin said: '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's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.'
On his Twitter profile, Springer jokingly declared himself as 'Talk show host, ringmaster of civilization's end.'
He also contended that the people on his show volunteered to be subjected to whatever ridicule or humiliation awaited them.
His audience would cheer his name, as his outrageous guests would get into crazy fights - with many expletive-filled rants being bleeped out.
Springer called it 'escapist entertainment,' while others saw the show as contributing to a dumbing-down decline in American social values.
He often told people, tongue in cheek, that his wish for them was 'may you never be on my show.'
His show was so popular in the 90's that he even managed to top Oprah Winfrey's program in several cities.
They asked fans to make charitable donations in his name after the TV host passed away 'peacefully' at his home in Chicago after his health took a turn for the worse.
Tributes have flooded in for the 'irreplaceable' talent, with his family adding: 'As he always said, take care of yourself, and each other'.
Appearing to hint at his illness, Springer said during an interview last year he wanted to retire while he was 'still healthy', following NBCUniversal canceling his latest show Judge Jerry. He added: 'I don't have to make a living. I want to enjoy life.'
Springer was known for hosting the smash hit 'The Jerry Springer Show' for 27 years, becoming America's guilty pleasure for wild and raucous TV moments.
He also had a wide-ranging political career, even becoming the mayor of Cincinnati in 1977 - and even considered a run for Ohio state governor.
Family spokesman Jene Galvin said: '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's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.'
On his Twitter profile, Springer jokingly declared himself as 'Talk show host, ringmaster of civilization's end.'
He also contended that the people on his show volunteered to be subjected to whatever ridicule or humiliation awaited them.
His audience would cheer his name, as his outrageous guests would get into crazy fights - with many expletive-filled rants being bleeped out.
Springer called it 'escapist entertainment,' while others saw the show as contributing to a dumbing-down decline in American social values.
He often told people, tongue in cheek, that his wish for them was 'may you never be on my show.'
His show was so popular in the 90's that he even managed to top Oprah Winfrey's program in several cities.