Jerry Springer, the legendary talk show host and former Cincinnati mayor, passed away at the age of 79. While Springer’s controversial talk show and political career are well known, not much is known about his upbringing and parents, Margot Kallman and Richard Springer.

Also read | Did Jerry Springer appear in The Simpsons?

Who was Margot Kallman and Richard Springer?

Margot Kallman was a Jewish refugee from Germany who fled the country during the Nazi regime. She settled in London, where she met Richard Springer, a Jewish refugee from Poland who had also fled the Nazi occupation. The couple got married and eventually settled in New York City, where Jerry was born in 1944.

Growing up, Jerry Springer’s parents worked hard to provide for their family. Richard Springer worked as a shoe store owner, while Margot Kallman worked as a bank clerk. Despite their modest income, the family was able to live comfortably in Queens, New York.

Jerry Springer attended Forest Hills High School, where he excelled academically and was even voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by his classmates. He went on to attend Tulane University, where he earned a degree in political science. After graduating, Springer attended Northwestern University School of Law and eventually became a lawyer.

Despite his success as a lawyer, Jerry Springer’s true calling was in politics. He served as a councilman and eventually the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. However, it was his controversial talk show, The Jerry Springer Show, that catapulted him to national fame. The show, which premiered in 1991, quickly became known for its outrageous guests, explosive confrontations, and controversial subject matter.

Also read | The Jerry Springer Show: 5 most controversial moments

Despite the show’s controversial nature, Jerry Springer always maintained that he was simply providing a platform for people to share their stories and experiences. He once said, “I think people tune in because they’re curious about what other people are like. They’re curious about how other people live. And we give them a glimpse of that.”