Judge Joseph Wapner, most commonly known from “People’s Court,” has passed away today at the age of 97 according to TMZ. He was hospitalized with breathing problems last week and was put in hospice care on Friday in his west Los Angeles Home. He is survived by his three children.
He served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge for 20 years before embarking in reality TV in 1981. He quickly became very popular as one of the highest rated daytime TV court shows at the time.