Jerry Springer has died at the age of 79.
The TV icon was famed for his hit show the Jerry Springer Show, which was on our screens for 27 years.
A family spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement, which read: ‘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.
‘He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.’
A source close to the family told TMZ that he had been diagnosed with cancer a few months ago.
This week, the outlet reports that his health took a turn for the worse and died at his home in Chicago.
Tributes poured in on social media shortly after the news was confirmed, with devastated fans sharing how much the TV star meant to them.
‘Heartbroken that Jerry Springer is dead. Dude was an absolute legend. A true renaissance man (so to speak). He will be missed,’ one penned.
‘”Till next time, take care of yourselves and each other” – RIP #JerrySpringer,’ another wrote.
‘RIP Jerry Springer a true legend, loved watching his shows growing up,’ a follower commented.
‘What?! No way! Jerry Springer brought so much entertainment to TV with his show,’ a Twitter user added.
‘He will be missed. Such a legend.’
The London-born presenter initially began his career in politics and was a campaign advisor to Robert F Kennedy.
He ran for Congress in 1970, losing out to Donald Clancy, before getting elected to the Cincinnati City Council the following year, where he served for three years.
Springer then went on to carve out a successful career as a local political commentator on the small screen, before debuting the iconic Jerry Springer Show in September, 1991.
The program initially started out life as a politics talk show, before the late star decided to freshen up the format, molding it into one of the most-watched series at the time.
He famously welcomed guests from all walks of life onto the stage to air out their grievances in front of a live audience, often leading to explosive fights, arguments and tears.
At the height of its popularity, the Jerry Springer Show drew in more than 12million viewers in 1998, beating out Oprah Winfrey Show at the time.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
For more stories like this, check our entertainment page.
Follow Metro.co.uk Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
Source: Read Full Article
