Jerry Springer is best known for his eponymous talk show, but his broadcasting career began when he was still a college student.
Springer cut his teeth with a radio show while enrolled at Tulane University. He went on to become a political reporter and commentator on Cincinnati’s NBC affiliate, WLWT.
The journalist was also a politician and was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971. He resigned in 1974 after he admitted to soliciting a sex worker. The scandal, however, did not mark the end of his political career.
Springer won back his council seat in 1975 after honestly addressing his past. He opened up about the controversy again in a television advertisement for his 1982 Ohio gubernatorial run.
Although he didn’t win the election, Springer went on to achieve massive success with his daytime talk show, which ran from 1991 to 2018. Originally created to mimic the format of The Phil Donahue Show, Jerry Springer was later revamped to feature everyday people dealing with controversial issues. Arguments between guests would often result in physical fights.
During a November 2022 appearance on David Yontef’s “Behind the Velvet Rope” podcast, Springer apologized for how the program affected the entertainment and societal landscape.
“I just apologize. I’m so sorry. What have I done? I’ve ruined the culture,” he said, before quipping, “I just hope hell isn’t that hot, because I burn real easy. I’m very light-complected.”
Springer died at age 79 in April 2023, more than four years after the talk show’s last episode aired. His death came after a struggle with a brief illness. The former Mayor is survived by his daughter, Katie Springer, whom he shared with wife Micki Velton, and his grandson, Richard.
Keep scrolling for a look at Springer’s life over the years:

1970
The Ringmaster author ran for Congress but failed to unseat Republican incumbent Ronald D. Clancy.

1973
Springer married Velton.

1974
After serving as a Cincinnati City Councilman for three years, the lawyer resigned after admitting to soliciting a sex worker. He won back his seat in a landslide victory one year later.

1976
Springer and Velton welcomed their daughter, Katie.

1977
The Tulane alum was chosen by the city council to serve one year as Mayor of Cincinnati.

1980s
Springer worked as a political reporter and commentator on Cincinnati’s NBC affiliate, WLWT, throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s.

1991
Jerry Springer premiered. The talk show focused on political issues in its early years, but later switched gears to feature everyday people dealing with controversial issues.

2007
The television producer began his two-season stint as the host of America’s Got Talent.

2018
After 27 seasons, Jerry Springer came to an end in July. The host previously hinted at retirement in February 2018.
“When you reach this age, it’s almost on a year-to-year basis,” he told The Daily Beast at the time, noting his busy schedule and a desire to spend more time with his grandson.
“He’s 9 going on 20,” he said of his daughter’s son. “It’s the God’s truth best thing in the world. I just want to be around him. He’s my buddy.”

2019
Springer put his law degree to work with the premiere of his courtroom show, Judge Jerry. The series ran for three seasons, coming to an end in 2022.

2023
Springer died at age 79 in April after briefly battling an illness.
Steve Wilkos shared a heartwarming tribute to his former TV mentor after news broke of his death.
“Other than my father, Jerry was the most influential man in my life. Everything I have today, I owe to Jerry,” the Steve Wilkos Show personality said in a statement to Us at the time. “He was the smartest, most generous, kindest person I’ve ever known. My wife [Rachelle Wilkos] and I are devastated. We will miss him terribly.”