Jerry Springer, member of Tulane University’s class of ‘65 and former TV personality, passed away at 79 this morning from pancreatic cancer. 

Beginning his broadcasting career at Tulane’s radio station, WTUL, Springer went on to host “The Jerry Springer Show” which aired from 1991 to 2018. Known for its controversy and physical fights, the segment ran for nearly 5,000 episodes and inspired the 1998 comedy “Ringmaster,” featuring Springer as a fictional version of himself.

Springer began his career in politics, working as a presidential campaign advisor to Robert F. Kennedy before serving as the mayor of Cincinnati.