(CNN) — Television host and former Cincinnati mayor Jerry Springer has died of pancreatic cancer, his representative, Linda Shafran, confirmed to CNN on Friday.
He was 79 years old.
Springer’s death was announced on Thursday, April 28.
“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was the key to his success in everything he did, whether it was politics, radio or just joking around with people on the street who wanted a picture or a few words,” said Jene Galvin, friend and spokesperson for the family, in a statement.
“The Jerry Springer Show,” his tabloid interview series, premiered in 1991 and was a huge hit with audiences. It ended in 2018 after more than 4,000 episodes.
Both Springer and his show were often criticized for helping to popularize “trash television” due to the often rowdy guests it hosted.
Springer told CNN in 2010 that he didn’t mind being referred to as the “granddaddy of junk TV” as “The Jerry Springer Show” celebrated its 20th anniversary on the air: “That’s probably accurate. I don’t know what the award for that, but I think it’s true that we were probably one of the first shows to feature some of the barbaric stuff that we have.”
Springer had not made it public that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
(CNN) — Television host and former Cincinnati mayor Jerry Springer has died of pancreatic cancer, his representative, Linda Shafran, confirmed to CNN on Friday.
He was 79 years old.
Springer’s death was announced on Thursday, April 28.
“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was the key to his success in everything he did, whether it was politics, radio or just joking around with people on the street who wanted a picture or a few words,” said Jene Galvin, friend and spokesperson for the family, in a statement.
“The Jerry Springer Show,” his tabloid interview series, premiered in 1991 and was a huge hit with audiences. It ended in 2018 after more than 4,000 episodes.
Both Springer and his show were often criticized for helping to popularize “trash television” due to the often rowdy guests it hosted.
Springer told CNN in 2010 that he didn’t mind being referred to as the “granddaddy of junk TV” as “The Jerry Springer Show” celebrated its 20th anniversary on the air: “That’s probably accurate. I don’t know what the award for that, but I think it’s true that we were probably one of the first shows to feature some of the barbaric stuff that we have.”
Springer had not made it public that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
