Judge Frank Caprio, the retired Providence Municipal Court Chief Judge who became a viral sensation for his compassion in the courtroom, has died at age 88 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
His passing was confirmed Wednesday, August 20, in a post to his official Instagram page.
“Judge Frank Caprio passed away peacefully at the age of 88 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer,” the statement read. It described him as a man whose “compassion, humility and unwavering belief in the goodness of people” touched millions.
Final Message From Hospital Bed
Just one day before his death, Caprio shared an emotional video from his hospital bed, thanking his supporters.
“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,” Caprio said.
“Unfortunately, I’ve had a setback. I’m back in the hospital now, and I’m coming to you again, asking you to remember me in your prayers once more. I’m a great believer in the power of prayers. I think the one above is looking over us. So remember me, please.”
His family echoed that gratitude in a Facebook post: “Judge Caprio wishes to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your prayers, love, and support while he is in the hospital. Your kindness and encouragement mean the world to him.”
From Rhode Island Courtroom to National Fame
Caprio first took the bench in 1985 and served nearly four decades before retiring in 2023. He became a household name through Caught in Providence, the syndicated courtroom reality show that ran from 2018 to 2020 and earned four Daytime Emmy nominations, including three for outstanding legal/courtroom program.
The judge gained viral fame on social media with clips showing his empathy toward defendants facing minor infractions. One of his most remembered moments came when he dismissed a ticket against a 96-year-old man who had been speeding in a school zone while rushing his son to cancer treatment.
Cancer Diagnosis and Battle
Caprio revealed his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2023, calling it “an insidious form of cancer.” He was treated both in Rhode Island and at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. “I pray that God guides their thoughts and their hands in their treatment of me,” he told followers at the time.
Legacy and Survivors
Caprio is survived by his wife, Joyce, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
The family’s Instagram tribute concluded: “He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. His legacy lives on in the countless acts of kindness he inspired. In his honor, may we each strive to bring a little more compassion into the world — just as he did every day.”
