Jerry Springer's life off-camera has had so many ups and downs, he might well have qualified as a guest on his own syndicated talk show. His parents fled Nazi Germany, escaping the Holocaust that claimed other family members, and eventually settled in Queens, New York. Fresh out of Northwestern University Law School, Springer served as a campaign aide to Senator Robert F. Kennedy and, following Kennedy's assassination, joined a law firm in Cincinnati, OH, where he eventually won a seat on the city's Council-at-Large in 1971. Although a blind date led to his 1973 marriage with a Proctor & Gamble administrative aide, something else led him to cross the Ohio River and procure the sexual favors of a prostitute in a Kentucky massage parlor. When vice cops discovered his secret, Springer resigned his position and came clean during a 1974 press conference. His honesty worked overwhelmingly in his favor, and he was elected mayor of Cincinnati in 1977, receiving the largest plurality in the city's history.
Springer stepped down as Mayor in 1981 and, after an unsuccessful bid for governor in the Ohio Democratic primary, joined Cincinnati's WLWT-TV as a political reporter and commentator in 1982. Two years later he graduated to news anchor and managing editor, becoming Cincinnati's number one anchor until he relinquished his post in January 1993. Springer launched his eponymous syndicated talk show from Cincinnati in 1991. The following year, he moved it to Chicago where it has flourished. He signed a contract that guarantees "Jerry Springer Show" junkies their fix through the year 2002.
A concerned humanitarian who has raised millions of dollars for charity, Springer suffered his greatest personal trial at the arrival of his only child, born legally blind, deaf in one ear and without nasal passages. He has also imitated Elvis Presley, recorded a country album and opened for Billy Ray Cyrus, sung rock-and-roll at Johnny Depp's Viper Room and suited up to play goalie for the International Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals. Additionally, Springer has appeared as himself on episodes of such TV series as "Roseanne" (ABC), "Married ... With Children" (Fox), "Between Brothers" (UPN) and "The X-Files" (Fox).
- Also Credited As:
Gerald Norman Springer, Gerald Springer
- Born:
Gerald Norman Springer on February 13, 1944 in London, England, United Kingdom
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Job Titles:
Talk show host, Country singer, Songwriter, Lawyer, Politician
Family
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Daughter: Katie Springer. Born in 1976, legally blind and deaf in one ear; also born without a nasal passages; mother, Micki Velton
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Father: Richard Springer. Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany; deceased
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Mother: Margot Springer. Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany; deceased
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Sister: Evelyn Springer. Born c. 1940
Education
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Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, JD, 1968
Milestones
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1939 Parents fled to London from Nazi Germany
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1949 Family emigrated to the United States when Springer was five years old
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1968 Became a political campaign aide to Senator Robert F. Kennedy
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1969 Joined a Cincinnati law firm and became active in local referendum to lower Ohio s voting age to 19
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1971 Won a seat on the Cincinnati city council
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1974 Forced to resign after admitting to hiring a prostitute; came clean to stunned news reporters at a press conference
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1977 Received more votes than any other councilman (largest plurality in city s history), becoming mayor of Cincinnati
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1981 Stepped down as mayor of Cincinnati
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1982 Lost Ohio Democratic gubernatorial primary
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1982 Was political reporter and commentator for Cincinnati s WLWT-TV (Channel 5)
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1984 Became news anchor and managing editor at WLWT-TV
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1991 Hosted syndicated talk show, The Jerry Springer Show ; launched show in Cincinnati, moving it to Chicago a year later
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1994 Revamped the format of The Jerry Springer Show in order to garner higher ratings
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1995 Released country album, Dr. Talk ; wrote title cut during a plane ride
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1998 Portrayed his own talk show host character in the film, Ringmaster
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1998 Released his autobiography, Ringmaster
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1999 Had a cameo appearance in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me as himself
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2005 Starred with Armand Assante in the film, Citizen Verdict
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2006 Joined the third season of ABC s Dancing With the Stars
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2009 Will make his West End stage debut in London’s Chicago as Billy Flynn
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Announced his bid for Ohio congressional seat; three days later, Army reservist Springer was called to active duty and sent to Fort Knox, KY
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Upon his discharge four months later, resumed his bid, but lost by a modest margin