Talk show host Jerry Springer has died at the age of 79. Springer's publicist Linda Shafran confirmed his passing to Fox News Digital on Thursday morning. "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," said Jene Galvin, a family spokesperson and friend of Springer's since 1970, in a statement. "He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on." Springer died peacefully at home in suburban Chicago after a brief illness, the statement said.
He was surrounded by his family. "The Jerry Springer Show" launched in 1991 and ran for multiple decades. At its peak, "The Jerry Springer Show" was a ratings powerhouse and a U.S.
cultural pariah, synonymous with lurid drama. Known for chair-throwing and bleep-filled arguments, the daytime talk show was a favorite American guilty pleasure over its 27-year run, at one point topping Oprah Winfrey’s show.
After more than 4,000 episodes, the show ended in 2018, never straying from its core salaciousness: Some of its last episodes had such titles as "Stripper Sex Turned Me Straight," "Stop Pimpin’ My Twin Sister" and "Hooking Up With My Therapist." Before his TV career, Springer earned a political science degree from Tulane University.
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