Jerry Springer was born in London tube station after family fled Nazi Germany
Jerry Springer, who has died at the age of 79, was famed across the world for his iconic US talkshow which ran for 27 years.
While the TV star reached worldwide fame as an American TV star, Jerry was actually born in London in 1944.
Jerry was born as Gerald Norman Springer in Highgate tube station on February 13, 1944 as the underground station was being used as a bomb shelter during the Second World War.
The TV star's German-Jewish family, including Jerry's parents Richard and Margot, were staying in East Finchley at the time after fleeing Nazi Germany.
Jerry previously discussed his birth as he told the BBC in 2012: "My birth was a little bit out of the ordinary because I was born at the Highgate – you call them tube stations, I say subway.
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"The reason my mum told my I was born at the subway station is because this is during the war. And during the war women who were in the ninth month would often spend the night in the subway stations because those were the bomb shelters."
Jerry is best known for his popular US talkshow (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The American TV star was born in London (S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)The TV icon spent the first five years of his life in a block of flats in East Finchley called Belvedere Court.
He recalled standing at the window of their flat and watching the buses on the road in front go by.
Jerry told the BBC: "I remember looking out my window every day because I was obsessed with buses.
Jerry was born in Highgate tube station in 1944 (BBC)"And, back then, in the late 40s there were two buses that came right in front of our house – the double decker buses – were the 58, which I'm not sure exists anymore, and the 102."
The residential block was principally let to Jewish families from Europe who were fleeing the Nazi occupation in the war.
Belvedere Court was designed by architect Ernst Freud, the son of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.
The talkshow icon previously revisited Belvedere Court, where he lived for the first five years of his life (BBC)The TV star's parents had arrived in England a month before the war broke out.
Jerry and his family moved to the United States in January 1949. But Jerry regularly returned to London throughout his life.
It was announced today that Jerry has died at the age of 79.
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The talkshow host's family spokesman announced the sad news in a statement.
"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," family spokesman Jene Galvin said.
"He's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely.
Jerry recalled watching the buses go by from the window of the London flat as a child (BBC)"But memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on," Jene told TMZ.
Tributes to the iconic TV presenter came pouring in as Piers Morgan said: "Jeez, this sucks. RIP Jerry Springer, 79.
"TV icon & such an intelligent, warm, funny man. Loved working with him (on@AGT), loved hanging out with him (we lived in same hotel for 2yrs), loved arguing with him (he loved his politics), loved everything about him. Gutting."
Comedian Loni Love shared a sweet snap of them together. Alongside it, she wrote: "What I loved about Jerry Springer was the way he connected with people in a unique and authentic manner.
"This is why as a talk show host he excelled… condolences to his family and fans on his passing.."
News anchor Nick Foley tweeted: "His shows over the years could certainly raise some eyebrows but on the few occasions I got to briefly interview him over the years #JerrySpringer was always a class act and a pleasure to speak to. #RIP."
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