'Dancing With the Stars' Fans Rally Around Tom Bergeron Over “Another Gut Punch”

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Just a few days after mourning the loss of Dancing With the Stars judge Len Goodman, Tom Bergeron is remembering another friend.

On April 27, news broke that television host Jerry Springer died in Chicago at the age of 79. The New York Times confirmed the death via a statement from a family friend, who said his battle was a "brief illness," which was later revealed to be pancreatic cancer. He was most famous for starring on The Jerry Springer Show, which premiered in 1991 and ran for 27 seasons before ending in 2018. Shortly after the announcement of Jerry's death, Tom took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late comrade.

"Another gut punch. #rip Jerry Springer," he wrote on April 27. "On left, goofing around backstage at @thejerryspringershow. Top [and] bottom right, backstage taping a bit for @jimmykimmellive."

When fans learned the former America's Funniest Home Videos host lost two important men in his life, they ran to the comments to support him in his grief.

"That tribute section of the dance floor is filling up way too quickly," one person penned on Instagram. "My deepest condolences 🙏🏼😇," a different user added. "Still remember when you were on his show, it was so random and so great!" another follower noted.

For those who don't remember, Jerry was partnered with Kym Herjavec as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars season 3. He eventually placed sixth on the competition series, and it led to a budding friendship with him and the then-host. What's more, Tom later appeared on a 2011 dance-themed segment of The Jerry Springer Show.

More than a decade after Jerry's stint, Tom shared how it became a highlight during his time hosting Dancing With the Stars.

"Jerry Springer, who, when they told me he was gonna do the show, I’m like, ‘Jerry Springer? From that show?’" he told People Now in 2018. "Turns out to be the biggest [mentsch], he’s an absolute sweetheart, and he only wanted to do the show, so he could learn to do a waltz for his daughter’s wedding.”

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