Retired Providence, Rhode Island, Judge Frank Caprio, celebrated worldwide for his compassionate courtroom moments, posted a heartfelt farewell to fans in his final video before passing.
Why It Matters
Caprio died on Wednesday, aged 88, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Known for his empathy toward defendants and plainspoken courtroom style, the judge, who presided over cases on his hit TV show Caught in Providence, had billions of views on social media.
Michelle R. Smith/AP
What To Know
Before his death, Judge Frank Caprio shared a video message from his hospital bed, asking the public to pray for him.
“Last year, I asked you to pray for me and it’s very obvious that you did because I came through a very difficult period. Unfortunately, I’ve had a setback and I’m back in the hospital now and I’m coming to you again asking you to remember me in your prayers once more,” Caprio said, his voice breaking.
“And so I ask you again, if it’s not too much, that you can remember me in your prayers. I’m a great believer in the power of prayers. I think the Almighty above is looking over us. So remember me please.”
The video, in which Caprio appeared with tears in his eyes, was posted less than 24 hours before his passing. Its caption read: “As I continue this difficult battle, your prayers will lift my spirit.”
The post has since garnered more than 3 million views on TikTok and 2.4 million on Instagram.
Caprio first revealed his diagnosis in December 2023, announcing he had received the news on “one of the happiest days of the year for [him]”—his birthday.
A fixture in Rhode Island’s judiciary since 1985, Caprio served as a Providence Municipal Court judge and gained national recognition through the TV show Caught in Providence, which earned a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2021. It would receive two more, in 2022 and 2023.
His trademark style of compassion in the courtroom produced viral moments—from inviting children to sit with him behind the bench to unveiling a “mini-judge” plushie of himself—and earned him the nickname “the nicest judge in the world.”
In a 2024 appearance on CBS Mornings, Caprio explained that his empathy came from his own upbringing in poverty, just blocks from the courthouse that now bears his name.
“I’m just a small-town municipal court judge, just trying to do good. That’s how I am, who tries to take into consideration the circumstances surrounding the people before me. And remember what my dad told me, when someone appears before you, put yourself in their shoes, imagine it’s you before them. How do you want to be treated?” he said.
He also spoke candidly about his illness: “It’s not a pleasant experience to go to bed at night, say your prayers. And suddenly you have one extra thing you have to ask for. And that is, please help the treatment be successful for the pancreatic cancer. And I think we’re on the way.”
Judge Caprio is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Joyce, along with their five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
What People Are Saying
Caprio’s son said in a statement: “On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and your unwavering support for him throughout this journey. Your love lifted him in ways that words cannot describe.”
“He had great medical doctors to treat his physical illness. However, it was the love and the support that he received from all of you that lifted his spirits and boosted his soul to find the strength to fight on and outlive his diagnosis by a year and a half. So, in his memory, please, spread a little kindness today. I know he would love that. Dad we love you. May you rest in peace.”
Caprio’s family said in a statement on Facebook: “Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond. His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”