About Jerry Springer

Throughout an illustrious career Jerry Springer has become a cultural and civic icon. In addition to talk show host, he has been a two-term mayor of Cincinnati, political pundit, lawyer, award-winning newscaster, country recording artist, international Emcee, TV personality, movie star, Broadway actor and most recently, progressive talk-radio broadcaster.

This season Jerry adds Ballroom Dancing to his list of accomplishments as he joins the cast of the hugely popular television series Dancing With The Stars premiering September 12, 2006. "I am practicing the Cha Cha right now and didn't know so many bones and muscles in my body could hurt so much" Springer quipped.

The multi-faceted Springer, who has a passion for politics, was named Ohio Democrat Of The Year and represented Ohio as Delegate-at-Large for the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Springer remains active in voter registration and other populist causes.

A regular guest on the talk show circuit, Springer has appeared on various prominent shows including The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, Scarborough Country, Countdown With Keith Olberman, The View and numerous other television programs.

Today, because of the lasting popularity of his talk show, Springer is a favorite guest speaker throughout college campuses in the U.S. In recent years Springer was welcomed at Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Northwestern, University of Miami, University of Southern California, San Francisco State, Emory, George Washington, American University, and his undergraduate alma mater Tulane as well as other academic institutions. In 2000, Springer was personally invited by the Oxford Union of Oxford University to participate in their guest lecture series, during which he broke all attendance records for the history of that longstanding series.

Ringmaster, hit bookstore shelves in November 1998, penned by Springer, it was a personal account of his experiences along with remembrances from his childhood and professional career. Also in November 1998, Springer made his first venture into feature films starring in Ringmaster, a fictionalized movie chronicling his television talk show. In 1999, Springer thoroughly enjoyed working with Mike Myers, where he portrayed himself in the hit movie Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

During the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, Springer appeared to promote his staring role in the feature film Citizen Verdict. Springer played the producer of a courtroom reality TV show which co-starred Armand Assante and Roy Scheider.

Everyone knew Springer had "arrived" as a true cultural icon when he was the featured character in The Simpsons' 1998 Halloween Special. He has also graced the cover of Rolling Stone, Esquire, New York Magazine and Sarasota Magazine and he was recently featured in Vanity Fair's "Vanities." Barbara Walters chose Springer as one of the10 Most Fascinating People in her 1998 Special.

Springer, born in London, England, travels back to the UK frequently. In the summer of 2005 Springer began a British version of his talk show called The Springer Show, using local guests. The show was so successful Springer continues to travel abroad to tape shows which will air in the UK this season.