Renowned TV personality Judy Sheindlin, celebrated for her role on the hit show “Judge Judy,” has had an illustrious career both in and out of the courtroom. Recently, she commemorated her birthday amidst reflecting on a past health scare that occurred during a taping of her show.

Judy was born to Jewish parents, Ethel and Murray, in Brooklyn, New York, on October 12, 1942. Her early life was shaped by her mother’s role as an office manager and her father’s dental practice. She completed her high school education at James Madison High School in 1960 and went on to graduate from American University in Washington, D.C., in 1963.

Judy’s pursuit of law led her to American University’s Washington College of Law, where she stood out as the sole female student among 126 peers. She later earned her law degree from New York Law School and passed the New York bar exam in 1965.

Judy initially worked as a corporate lawyer for a beauty company but left due to dissatisfaction, eventually becoming a prosecutor in 1972. Her rise to fame began with a feature in The Los Angeles Times in 1993 and a subsequent appearance on “60 Minutes.”

After retiring from a 25-year judgeship in 1996, Judy transitioned to television, launching the “Judge Judy” show in September of that year, becoming famous for her straightforward judicial style.

In March 2011, Judy experienced a concerning health episode on set, later revealed to be a mini-stroke. Despite her initial reluctance, her long-standing colleagues called for medical help, leading to her hospitalization and a diagnosis of a possible transient ischemic attack, characterized by her double vision and slowed speech earlier that day.

“Judge Judy” concluded in 2021 after a successful 25-season run, with Judy being one of the highest-paid TV hosts, earning $47 million per season. Now 81, Judy has embarked on a new project, “Judy Justice,” currently in its second season.

She has been married three times in her life, with her current husband being Jerry Sheindlin, whom she met under memorable circumstances at a bar. Their initial meeting led to a long-lasting relationship, with the couple marrying, divorcing, and then remarrying, now together for over three decades.