Zach Strenkert appeared on The Jerry Springer Show when he was just a year old—back when some of you reading this weren’t even born yet.
In 1996, his parents brought the 70-pound infant onto the notorious talk show, and he instantly became a media sensation.
Though the episode aired decades before social media existed, the footage has found new life online in recent years, circulating widely across platforms.
What many current viewers don’t realize is that Zach, now 29, has Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS)—an exceptionally rare genetic condition.

The disorder caused him to pack on 2.5 pounds every two weeks while growing an inch, ultimately reaching a reported 70 pounds by 17 months of age.
The recently released Netflix documentary Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera Action has given audiences fresh insight into just how sensationalized the show truly was.
Growing up in Port Jervis, New York, Zach appeared on programs including Oprah and Inside Edition. Looking back, he says he ‘felt like a circus act.’
“They portrayed me as different, which only isolated me more from everyone else,” he told The Mirror. “I became known as the TV kid.”

“Today, people ask me what it was like. They think my mom was after fame or money, but that wasn’t it at all,” he explained. “We just needed access to geneticists, which was nearly impossible with our insurance.”

Zach emphasized that his family’s goal was raising awareness about living with SGBS. “We didn’t walk away with much money after everything was said and done. It was purely about making sure her kid was okay,” he said.
Regarding the documentary, Zach observed: “It’s just a different angle on what’s already out there. Nothing new was revealed. Same content, just dressed up with production value.”
Zach, who once weighed 485 pounds, is now focused on improving his health.
The Jerry Springer Show ran for 27 years, from 1991 through 2018, with Jerry Springer at the helm.
The television personality passed away at his Chicago residence in 2023.
“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,” said family spokesperson Jene Galvin at the time, confirming he’d died from pancreatic cancer.
“He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”