Jerry Springer, the former mayor of Cincinnati who became a household name as the host of the tabloid talk show, The Jerry Springer Show, has died at the age of 79.
Springer’s representative confirmed the news to BBC, explaining that he died peacefully in his home in Chicago on Thursday, 27 April.
Springer was born in 1944 to Jewish refugees in a London Underground station during a German bombing raid. He had worked as a political campaign adviser and attorney before embarking on a career in TV journalism.
He hosted The Jerry Springer Show for nearly three decades, which became a symbol of vulgar television with its on-air fights, swearing and infidelity revelations.
Despite accusations that his show was too crude, Springer repeatedly defended it, saying it reflected the whole society. He ended each episode with his catchphrase, ‘Take care of yourself and each other’.
In addition to his talk show, he also hosted America’s Got Talent, Judge Jerry, and appeared in numerous TV shows and movies.
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Picture: People Magazine