Jerry Springer began his career in politics, serving as a Cincinatti City Council member as well as the city’s mayor. When he pivoted from politics to the news, it seemed like a shocking transition. However, when he got his own talk show, things really took off in a different direction.

The Jerry Springer Show ran for 27 seasons from 1991 to 2018 and became a pop culture phenomenon. The wild guests and shocking content drew extreme reactions from viewers, who never saw such things on daytime television. One never thought he might someday take the route of reality television.

However, that’s exactly what Jerry did when he joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars in 2006 during the show’s third season. Jerry was admittedly not a very seasoned dancer and felt very insecure competing on the show. However, he would reveal the one touching reason he decided to do it in the first place. He would go on to say his happiest moment on television was during the show.

Jerry Said His Happiest Moment On Television Was During Dancing With The Stars

Jerry passed away peacefully in his Chicago home on April 27, 2023, following a private struggle with pancreatic cancer. His family confirmed his death with a statement from their friend and spokesperson, Jene Galvin. “Jerry’s 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,” Jene said. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

TMZ reported that Jerry had been diagnosed with cancer a few months prior and took a bad turn the week of his passing. Jerry is survived by his ex-wife, Micki Velton, and daughter Katie Springer. A month before his death at the age of 79, Jerry revealed his “single happiest moment in television” during an episode of the Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did podcast. The interview would be his last and took place in March, just weeks after his 79th birthday.

“I was happy I reached 79,” he said. This was proceeded by an emotional revelation, where Jerry discussed performing the waltz on Dancing with the Stars in front of his daughter. “When she came to Hollywood the night we did the waltz and then she came out of the audience, that was my single happiest moment in television. I mean that was just, it was magical. So that’s my best memory, it was all worth it because of that.”

Jerry appeared on the show in 2006 during its third season. He was paired with Kym Johnson, his pro dance partner. The moving performance Jerry was referring to took place during Week 4. The two performed the routine to a cheering crowd, which included Jerry’s daughter Katie. The performance didn’t earn high scores from the judges, but Jerry still became a fan-favorite on the show. He ended up finishing in fifth place. Following his death, Kym reflected on her time with Jerry in a post on her Instagram account. According to her, Jerry’s daughter was his motivation for doing the show in the first place.

“I met Jerry when I first came to the US for my first season with DWTS,” Kym wrote. “I was lucky enough to be partnered with Jerry and I instantly adored him. He became like a father figure to me. He was so smart, kind, self-deprecating and just a great man. He wanted to do DWTS to learn to dance for his daughter’s wedding! I will treasure the memory of teaching Katie and Jerry a waltz for her wedding for the rest of my life.”

During a 2006 interview with The Associated Press, Jerry discussed preparing for the show. He even shared his thoughts on Kym and how she had been treating him as a dance partner. “She’s just as nice as can be,” Jerry said. “And she’s so tolerant … It’s like if you went to a nursing home and you did a square dance with people, you would keep on eye on them to make sure they’re OK. There’s a lot of ‘You OK?… You OK?'”

Jerry Did Dancing With The Stars So He Could Learn How To Dance At His Daughter’s Wedding

Kym wasn’t the only one to share her thoughts on Jerry after he died. Longtime DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba also posted a tribute to the late talk show host on Instagram. “Another fine gentleman with a gentle heart has left us,” she wrote. “@thejerryspringershow was one of my absolute favorite contestants. He joined us for Season 3 of @dancingwiththestars and he left an indelible mark in my own heart and in the hearts of our audience.”

One of the most touching parts of her tribute, however, was when she shared a memory of Jerry from his time on the show. It was in fact the same statement that Jerry made to Kym about his reason for doing the show.

“I remember he told us that he wanted to learn to dance for his daughter’s upcoming wedding. For some reason, I was always deeply touched by that. It wasn’t a ploy to get votes or garner attention. It was genuine. Just like he was,” she wrote. “I will always remember him fondly. And his kind soul will be missed.”

She concluded her post by writing, “May you Rest In Peace Sir. And thank you for the love for your daughter which inspired us all.”

Jerry himself confirmed that he wanted to join the show to learn how to dance at his daughter Katie’s wedding. When speaking to The Associated Press prior to his debut, he pointed out that it was his goal to stay on the show long enough to learn the waltz.

“I guess the final thing was my daughter, Katie, is getting married in December,” Jerry revealed. “And so we talked it over and I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I knew how to dance at my daughter’s wedding?’ That I wouldn’t step on her train or feet. So that’s my goal. I hope I’ll last long enough to learn how to dance for my daughter’s wedding.”

However, he was clearly nervous and out of his element. This was evident as he explained what he feared would happen during his first show. “Here’s what I think’s gonna happen,” Jerry began. “All right, so the dance starts and I miss a step — which is likely — then all of a sudden, you can’t stop and start over. You gotta catch up because it’s choreographed. So that’s my nightmare. That I’ve missed a step, I’m trying to catch up and I never catch up to what she’s doing. And I’m just out there flailing away.”

While he only finished fifth place, Jerry still accomplished his goal of learning and performing the waltz in front of his daughter. When he performed the number, his daughter Katie was in the audience, moved to tears.

“It started and the tears welled up in my eyes and it was a beautiful dance. I do think he was robbed, I do think he should have gotten all 10s, but you know, I’m biased,” his daughter Katie revealed to Access Hollywood at the time.

Jerry himself admitted in the same interview that he almost didn’t do the show, but learning to dance the waltz was a key component for Katie’s upcoming wedding. “I don’t know how to dance and I didn’t think it was appropriate. But then I talked with Katie about it and we thought, you know what, this could be a way to combine what I do in life, which is show business, with the wedding,” he told the outlet.

Jerry Said That He Would Never Do Dancing With The Stars Again

In 2022, Jerry sat down on the Behind The Velvet Rope podcast and discussed his time on Dancing with the Stars. While he clearly wanted to do the show at the time, he said that it isn’t an experience he would want to revisit. According to the talk show titan, it was just too difficult for him.

“I would never do it again because I realized how difficult it was. What was fun about it is that I was totally outside my comfort zone. And I, as much as possible, tried to turn it into my comfort zone by instead of selling my dancing, which was hopeless, I would tell jokes. … I would keep begging each week, ‘Please don’t vote for me,’” he said.

In 2006, Jerry spoke with The Associated Press as he was preparing to make his DWTS debut. He was clearly feeling the pressure and admitted he was not completely comfortable. “Well, understand: For me, standing is rigorous,” he said. “It’s exercise, and I’m certainly not used to that. But so far, I’m breathing. I know at the end of each week — of each performance — the country gets to vote you off. Have they ever voted someone off in the middle of a dance, though?”

Jerry even admitted he was aware that he wasn’t someone audiences would expect to see dancing on television. “This is not a combo you would have put together,” he said. “It wasn’t the first name people thought of when they said, ‘Who’d be a good dancer?’ … When I met [Kym], she said, ‘Well, what do you wanna work on?’ And I said, ‘The only thing you gotta know is CPR.’ There’s no one within 30 years of my age. There’s no chance, unless they have an old-man division.”

Jerry was admittedly insecure about his dancing ability. He even confided that he didn’t feel comfortable dancing alongside people who were younger and in better shape than him. However, despite his insecurities, Jerry handled the situation with his usual humor.

“I know! I’m trying,” he said when the reporter told him he needed to get a better attitude. “Everybody’s telling me that, but it’s just reality. You got all these young people and they’ve had good training, they’re talented, they’re good-looking, their bodies are really cut. My body’s in shape, but the shape is a circle … You know, I just think parents ought to get their children away from the set when I start dancing. It’s not pretty.”