It has been announced that talk show host Jerry Springer has died, with his family having shared the news today.
They revealed that he passed away peacefully, at the age of 79, at his home in Chicago on Thursday morning. They said: "Memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on".
The late presenter - whose real name is Gerald Springer - is best known for having fronted his eponymous talk show, which ran from 1991 until its final episode back in 2018.
And although the journalist became a household name over the course of his decades-long broadcasting career, fans may not be too familiar with his early life and family.
Childhood
Jerry has previously spoken about having been born in Highgate station on the London Underground whilst it was being used as an air raid shelter during World War II.
His parents Richard Springer and Margo Springer are said to have been German-Jewish refugees in the UK, as explored by the BBC 's Who Do You Think You Are?
Discussing his birth, he once told the BBC : "They reason my mom told me I was born [at the underground station] is because this was during the war [and] women who were in their ninth month would often spend the night [there]".
And recalling his childhood in Hampstead, he once said: "I remember looking out my window every day because I was obsessed with buses". He recalled double decker buses passing through the area when he lived there.
Although he spent his early years in the UK, the family later relocated to the US in around 1949. They are understood to have subsequently resided in New York City.
Early career
It's been reported that Jerry went on to earn a B.A. degree in political science from Tulane University and later a J.D. degree - which is a law degree - from Northwestern University.
As well as pursuing roles in broadcasting, Jerry ventured into politics early in his career, including having reportedly been a campaign adviser to the late Robert F. Kennedy.
It's understood that he went on to be elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971, before resigning in 1974. He's however said to have later served a year as mayor in 1977.
Family
Jerry seemed quite private about his life off-screen during his career but he was married to Micki Velton from 1973 until around 1994.
They may have since reconciled though as radio station WVXU reported last year that he lived "with his wife Micki". Fox News said last year that he mentioned having a wife.
Jerry and Micki welcomed their daughter Katie Springer, who's now around 47, in 1976. It's been reported that Katie was born blind and deaf in one ear.
As reported by United Press International, she told Access Hollywood in 2006 that her parents provided unconditional support but didn't want to treat her differently.
According to the outlet, she said. "I've heard this story that when I was first born and they heard about all these problems, they just said, 'we're never going to treat her different, we're going to make sure she knows she's not different.'"
Jerry was a proud grandfather to Richard, 14, and told the New York Post in 2011: "Everyone says that until you have your own [grandchild], you don't realize it really is the best thing in the world. It's like it's absolute, true love."
