Judge Frank Caprio, the beloved reality television star known for his compassionate approach in the courtroom, died on August 20, 2025, at age 88 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The Providence Municipal Court chief judge gained international fame through his reality show “Caught in Providence” and viral social media clips showcasing his empathetic rulings.
Caprio’s family announced his death through social media posts on August 20, stating he passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with the disease. The family described him as beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, noting that he touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond.
Just one day before his death, on August 19, Caprio posted what would be his final video message from his hospital bed. In the emotional clip, he revealed he had suffered a setback and returned to the hospital, asking his followers to remember him in their prayers. Caprio expressed his belief in the power of prayer and indicated that “the almighty above is looking over us.”
The judge first announced his cancer diagnosis in December 2023. He credited a wonderful team of doctors stretching from Boston to Providence and acknowledged the challenging road ahead, expressing his full preparation to fight as hard as possible.
Caprio served on the Providence Municipal Court bench for nearly four decades, joining in 1985 and retiring in 2023. Upon his retirement, he received the honorary title of chief judge emeritus, a strictly ceremonial position that came with neither pay nor time on the bench. Democratic Representative John Lombardi succeeded Caprio as chief judge of the court.
The reality show “Caught in Providence” ran for more than two decades on local television before being nationally syndicated in 2018. The show was produced by Caprio’s brother and featured his folksy humor and compassion as he handled traffic violations and municipal ordinance cases. Clips from the show attracted more than one billion views on social media, earning him the nickname “The Nicest Judge in the World.”
Caprio billed his courtroom as a place where people and cases are met with kindness and compassion. He frequently dismissed tickets or showed mercy while dispensing justice, often bringing children to the bench to help pass judgment on their parents. His most popular videos included instances where he listened sympathetically to defendants facing hardships, such as dismissing $400 in tickets and fines for a woman whose son had been killed.
The show earned four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including three for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program and one individual nomination for Caprio as Outstanding Daytime Personality in 2024. The program competed against major courtroom shows, including “Judge Judy” and “The People’s Court.”
Caprio came from humble beginnings as the second of three boys in an Italian immigrant family in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. His father worked as a fruit peddler and milk delivery route operator. Caprio credited his father with teaching him compassion, recalling how his father would never stop milk deliveries to customers who couldn’t pay their bills, despite company orders to do so after two weeks of missed payments.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee ordered all state agency and building flags to fly at half-staff until Caprio’s interment, calling him a Rhode Island treasure. McKee indicated that Caprio was more than a jurist, serving as a symbol of empathy on the bench and demonstrating what is possible when justice is tempered with humanity.
A funeral was held at the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul in Providence on Friday, August 29, with the archbishop of Boston presiding over the mass. The service was livestreamed on Caprio’s social media pages for fans worldwide who could not attend in person. His son David reported that supporters traveled to Rhode Island from as far as the Philippines to attend the services.
David Caprio noted that his father used his position of authority not to punish or be harsh to people, but to help them. He expressed hope that his father’s message and example would live on, emphasizing that Frank Caprio had shown that kindness, fairness, and compassion could function well within government institutions.
Caprio is survived by his wife Joyce, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His courtroom in Providence was renamed in his honor in October 2023, following his transition to emeritus status.