The new Netflix documentary “Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action” is notably absent of new footage from its title star. Springer, the reporter-turned-politician-turned-controversial talk show host, died in 2023.
But the documentary does include some rare words from his only child, daughter Katie Springer.
Read on for what Katie and Jerry Springer shared about their relationship.
Who is Katie Springer?
Jerry Springer had a seemingly warm relationship with his only child, Katie Springer.
The young Springer was born without nasal passages, which led to surgery shortly after her birth, she said in an Access Hollywood interview in 2006, an interview she conducted when she was 30 years old. She is also legally blind and deaf in one ear, Cincinnati Magazine reported in 1992.
“I’ve heard the story that when I was first born and they heard all these problems, they just said, ‘We’re never going to treat her different. We’re going to make sure she knows she’s not different. Look at me now. About to get married, live independently, have a wonderful career,” Katie Springer said on Access Hollywood. “If you give kids wings, they’ll fly.”
At the time of her 2006 Access Hollywood interview, Katie Springer was a teacher at Chicago’s Park School and worked with children who had special needs.
“I love what I do,” she said. “I get a lot out of it. I remember on occasion being in the worst mood, walking into the school; by the end of the day, I’m humming.”
Jerry Springer donated $230,000 that same year to Park School to build “Katie’s Corner,” a special facility for disabled students, reported the Daily Northwestern.
Katie told Access Hollywood her parents never handled her with kid gloves.
“I’ve heard this story that when I was first born and they heard about all these problems, they just said, we’re never going to treat her different, we’re going to make sure she knows she’s not different,” she said. “Look at me now. About to get married, live independently, have a wonderful career. If you give your kids wings, they’ll fly.”
Jerry Springer went on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ because of Katie Springer
In 2006, Jerry Springercompeted on “Dancing with the Stars” with partner Kym Johnson. After his death, Johnson told People he did the show to learn to dance at his daughter’s wedding.
“They wanted to do a father-daughter dance,” Johnson said. “He was so genuine in the reason why he wanted to do the show.”
When Katie Springer saw Johnson and her dad dance on the show, she told Access Hollywood, “It started and the tears welled up in my eyes and it was a beautiful dance. I do think he should have gotten all 10s, but I’m biased,” she said.
She described her father’s parenting style
Katie Springer called her dad “great” in her interview with Access Hollywood in 2006. “I couldn’t ask for a better father. Anyone who judges him based strictly on his show, they shouldn’t. It’s not who he is,” she said.
After his death, she commented on her dad’s generosity to People Magazine.
“I always said you had to be careful if you told dad you wanted something because you would probably get it if he could get it for you,” she said. “If I said I wanted something, I’d better be sure I actually wanted it. That was the way he was. He was very protective of his family, and he wanted his family to have what they wanted.”
Katie spoke up for her dad
In 1997, as the documentary outlines, Springer’s show suffered from accusations that the fights between its participants were faked.
Katie Springer reportedly spoke up for her dad. In the documentary, former Chicago Sun-Times critic Robert Feder read from a letter his publication received at the time from Katie Springer.
According to Feder, she wrote, “My name is Katie Springer. I’m Jerry Springer’s daughter. The City of Chicago (where “The Jerry Springer Show” was taped) seems to be in need of some facts about the man they have so slanderously dubbed the King of Sleaze. First of all, my dad has more education than many of the so-called journalists in this town. Chicago is blessed to have my dad on their team. Yes, his show is crazy, but that doesn’t mean he is. People shouldn’t judge before they listen.”
Katie Springer also told Access Hollywood in 2006 that her dad would make a good president, UPI reported at the time.