As reported by Deadline, legendary talk show host and daytime television star Jerry Springer (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Domino) has passed away at the age of 79. The former Cincinnati mayor passed away in his Chicago home. According to statement via NBC News from Jean Galvin, a family spokesperson and close friend, Springer passed away from pancreatic cancer.
“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,” Galvin said via NBC News. “He’s irreplaceable, and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart, and humor will live on.”
The Jerry Springer Show, a dramatic syndicated talk show hosted by Springer, is his most notable work, spanning from 1991 to 2018. In the show, Springer acted as a mediator for disputes between couples, friends, and family members, with many of the conflicts leading to physical fights that had to be interrupted by the show’s security team. The series gained high ratings and became known for its audience members chanting, “Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!” during Springer’s entrance in each episode.
Despite the chaos that often ensued, Springer would maintain a fatherly presence, overseeing the proceedings, and at the end of each episode, he would offer a final thought, reminding viewers to “take care of yourselves and each other.”
The success of Jerry Springer Show was such that the name “Jerry Springer” became a byword for anything outrageous or absurd on television, according to NBC News. For instance, after Will Smith (Wild Wild West, Men in Black) slapped Chris Rock (Head of State, I Think I Love My Wife) at the previous year’s Oscars, Alec Baldwin (The Departed, It’s Complicated) lamented how the ceremony had devolved into the Jerry Springer Show.
Maury Povich (How I Met Your Mother, Madea’s Big Happy Family), who was a fellow daytime talk show host in the 1990s, expressed his sadness at Springer’s passing and described him as “a unique showman.”
“I am shocked and saddened by the passing of Jerry. He was not only a colleague but a friend,” he said in a statement via NBC News. “We worked for the same company for decades. He was joyful, smart, and, in his own way, a unique showman. I will miss him.”
Steve Wilkos (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, WXW Rage TV), who started as an on-set security supervisor for Springer’s show and eventually became a talk show host himself, expressed that he owes his success to Springer.
“Other than my father, Jerry was the most influential man in my life,” Wilkos said in a statement via Twitter. “Everything I have today I owe to Jerry. He was the smartest, most generous, kindest person I’ve ever known. My wife and I are devastated. We will miss him terribly.”
The Jerry Springer Show was produced by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and ran for 27 seasons before ending its original run in 2018. However, it continues to air in syndication.