Controversial talk show host Jerry Springer has died aged 79.
He was known for portraying dysfunctional families on The Jerry Springer Show, which ran in the US from 1991 to 2018.
Springer retired from The Jerry Springer Podcast in December after eight years.
Family spokeswoman Jene Galvin said in a statement: “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 humour will live on,” reports RTE.
Springer died peacefully at his home in Chicago after a brief illness.
Springer was born on February 13, 1944 in an underground station in London being used as an air raid shelter.
His family, who fled from Germany to England during the Holocaust, settled in the Royal borough of New York.
Springer also had several unsuccessful runs for various political offices, including Congress in 1970, and ran ads to promote Ohio governor in the 1980s.
He later became a local television politics reporter and anchored the NBC affiliate television news program WLWT.
On his Twitter profile, he called himself “talk show host, ringmaster of civilisation’s end”, reports RTE.
Springer was married to Micki Velton. They had one daughter, Katie, and divorced in 1994.
There are plans for a funeral and memorial, his agent said, reports RTE.
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