Jerry Springer, talk show host and former Cincinnati mayor, dead at 79

Jerry Springer, the former Cincinnati mayor and talk show host, died Thursday at his home in the Chicago area after a brief illness, according to his family. He was 79.

His family said he was surrounded by loved ones and issued the following statement:

"Jerry, born Gerald Norman Springer in London, England on February 13, 1944, immigrated to Queens, New York at the age of four along with his parents and older sister. He graduated from Tulane University and Northwestern University Law School, served in the United States Army Reserves and had a long career in law, politics, journalism and broadcasting. He was known for the Jerry Springer Show, the Judge Jerry Show, the Springer on the Radio Show, Baggage, the Jerry Springer Podcast and until recently even his own 60s folk music radio show in Cincinnati. He also wrote an autobiography and once starred in a movie. But he captured the emotions of the country in 2006 with a shockingly long and humorous run on the popular Dancing With the Stars Show."

Springer was mayor of Cincinnati in 1977 and 1978 and served on a city council throughout most of the 1970s and early 1980s. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the Democratic Party primary for governor of Ohio in 1982.

“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,” said Jene Galvin, a lifelong friend and spokesman for the family. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

Funeral services and a memorial gathering are currently being developed, the family said. They ask that, in lieu of flowers, people consider following his spirit and make a donation or commit to an act of kindness to someone in need or a worthy advocacy organization.

"As he always said, 'Take care of yourself, and each other,'" the statement said.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jerry Springer, former talk show host and Cincinnati mayor, dead at 79