Jerry Springer dead at 79

CELEBRITIES

Jerry Springer, one of the most influential talk show hosts in TV history, has died. He was 79.

Springer died peacefully in his home in suburban Chicago on Thursday, according to a statement from his family.

Jene GalvinFriend and Spokesman for Springer's family

“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."

Jene GalvinFriend and Spokesman for Springer's family

“He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

A family spokesperson said Springer was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, which unfortunately took a bad turn this week, according to TMZ.

Springer spoke to The Post just last year and touched on his pop culture legacy.

Jerry Springer

“If a legacy is what you’re best-known for, obviously I’m best known for the crazy show."

Jerry Springer

“In a sense, I’ve become an adjective in the English language when people say ‘I’m having a Jerry Springer moment’ or when they say ‘Don’t go Jerry Springer on me now.’ Everyone knows instantly what they’re talking about.”

Springer — born Gerald Norman “Jerry” Springer — was born on February 13, 1944, in London, England, to Jewish refugees from Germany. Both of his grandmothers were killed in Nazi concentration camps.

His family emigrated to the US in January 1949 when Springer was almost 5 years old, settling in Queens, New York, where he grew up with his sister, Evelyn.

Springer grew up in New York and eventually moved to Cincinnati 1968 after graduating from Northwestern University law school.

He worked for Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign, marking the start of his career in the political sphere.

After making his mark in politics, he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1970 as a Democrat against four-term incumbent Republican Donald Clancy.

Springer was then elected to Cincinnati’s City Council in 1971 and re-elected in 1973 — but his political stint didn’t come without controversy as he was reportedly known as “the city council member who got caught paying for sex with checks.”

He unsuccessfully ran in the Democratic Party primary for Governor of Ohio in 1982. He also considered running for the US Senate in both 2000 and 2004, but ultimately decided against it.

“Jerry Springer” debuted September 30, 1991, on Cincinnati’s WLWT as their answer to the popular Dayton, Ohio-based “The Phil Donahue Show” — even chopping Springer’s hair and fashioning him with new glasses to mimic Donahue’s look.

But Springer’s broadcast, which launched as a politically oriented talk show, became a wholly different spectacle by year three on air.

Rather than politicians and public figures, In 1993, guests became ordinary people and came to the show to confess their secrets — of adultery, homosexuality, disability, transgenderism and other arguably taboo subjects of the time — usually with family and lovers in tow.

By 1998, “Jerry Springer” rivaled ratings for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in several local markets, reaching close to 7 million viewers in a given episode.

Springer is survived by his ex-wife Micki Velton and his daughter Katie. In lieu of flowers, the family asks fans to consider making a donation or committing to an act of kindness to someone in need or an advocacy organization.

They added in their statement, “As he always said, ‘Take care of yourself, and each other.’”

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