Well-known US television host Jerry Springer died at age 79 after a brief illness, US media announced Thursday. Springer, who was also a lawyer and politician, died peacefully in Chicago, according to a family spokesman. No additional details were given about his illness, but unidentified sources told TMZ that Springer had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months ago.
Jerry Springer became famous in the United States for his controversial program “The Jerry Springer Show,” which ran for 27 years until its end in 2018. The show became a cult program and a symbol of so-called “trash TV” in the US. It began as a talk show focusing on social and political issues, hosted by Springer, who had been mayor of Cincinnati in 1977. However, after a few years, the program changed its style to focus on lewd and outrageous topics to attract more viewers.
On the show, guests discussed family problems, adultery cases, and other transgressions, often resulting in violent fights. Despite the criticism the show received, it topped daytime television ratings in the United States in the late 1990s, even surpassing popular host Oprah Winfrey’s show. Throughout his career, Jerry Springer became an icon of American television, although he was also criticized by some for his sensationalist approach and lack of respect for people’s privacy.