US talk show host Jerry Springer has died aged 79, his family have confirmed.
A spokesperson for Mr Springer’s family told TMZ he passed away on Thursday morning at his home in the Chicago area.
A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Mr Springer was best known for The Jerry Springer Show, which ran from 1991 until 2018 in the US.
His series inspired the UK's The Jeremy Kyle Show, which ran on ITV between 2005 and 2019.
Prior to Springer's broadcasting career, which included roles as a political reporter and commentator, he was the mayor of Cincinnati and a political campaign adviser to Robert F Kennedy.
The Jerry Springer Show was a ratings powerhouse over its 27-year run, at one point topping Oprah Winfrey's show.
After more than 4,000 episodes, the show ended in 2018.
Jene Galvin, a family spokesperson and friend of Mr Springer's since 1970, said in a statement: “His 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 humor will live on.”
Gerry Springer was born in London on February 13, 1944, in a London underground railway station being used as a bomb shelter.
His parents, Richard and Margot, were German Jews who fled to England during the Holocaust, in which other relatives were killed in Nazi gas chambers.
They arrived in the US when their son was 5 and settled in the Queens borough of New York City.
Paying tribute, Celebrity Gogglebox and YouTube star KSI said: “Rip Jerry Springer. You made my off days at school so much more entertaining.”
Television presenter and model Lizzie Cundy wrote: “So very sad to hear Jerry Springer has died. King of the talk shows and one of our most controversial figures in TV history. Rest in peace.”
And comedian Loni Love said: “What I loved about Jerry Springer was the way he connected with people in a unique and authentic manner. This is why as a talk show host he excelled… condolences to his family and fans on his passing...”
