Judge Frank Caprio, the beloved Rhode Island municipal court judge who became a viral sensation for his compassionate approach to justice, died on August 20, 2025, at age 88 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The star of the reality television series “Caught in Providence” passed away peacefully after what his family described as a long and courageous fight against the disease.
Caprio’s death was announced through his official social media accounts on Wednesday evening. His family indicated that he touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond, noting his warmth, humor and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him. The family emphasized that he would be remembered not only as a respected judge but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
Just one day before his passing, Caprio had posted a heartbreaking video from his hospital bed on August 19, revealing he had suffered a setback in his cancer battle. In what would be his final message to fans, he asked for prayers and expressed his belief in their power. According to family, “I’m a great believer in the power of prayers.”
The judge first announced his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in December 2023, calling it an insidious form of cancer. He had credited a wonderful team of doctors at both Rhode Island facilities and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for his treatment while acknowledging the challenging road ahead.
Caprio served as Chief Judge of the Municipal Court in Providence, Rhode Island, for nearly four decades from 1985 until his retirement in 2023. His courtroom became famous for being a place where people and cases were met with kindness and compassion, earning him the nickname “The Nicest Judge in the World.”
The reality show “Caught in Providence” initially aired on local television for more than two decades before being nationally syndicated in 2018 through a deal with Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury division. The program earned four Daytime Emmy nominations, including three for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program and one individual nomination for Caprio as Outstanding Daytime Personality in 2024.
Clips from the show generated more than one billion views on social media platforms, with Caprio amassing 3.3 million followers on his personal Facebook page and 16 million on the show’s page. His most popular videos featured him calling children to the bench to help pass judgment on their parents, and instances where he showed extraordinary compassion by dismissing tickets or waiving fines for people facing hardship.
One memorable case involved a woman whose son had been killed, for whom Caprio dismissed $400 in tickets and fines. Another featured a 96-year-old man charged with speeding in a school zone while driving his cancer-stricken son to the doctor, whose case was also dismissed.
Caprio came from humble beginnings as the second of three boys in an Italian immigrant family in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence. His father worked as both a milk delivery man and fruit peddler, experiences that shaped Caprio’s understanding of hardworking people’s struggles. He often credited his father with teaching him compassion, recalling how his father would never stop milk deliveries even when customers couldn’t pay their bills.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee ordered all state flags to be flown at half-staff until Caprio’s internment, calling him a Rhode Island treasure. McKee stated that Caprio served the public well while connecting with them meaningfully, becoming more than a jurist but a symbol of empathy on the bench.
A funeral Mass was held at the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul in Providence on Friday, August 29, 2025, with the Archbishop of Boston presiding. The service was livestreamed on Caprio’s social media pages for fans worldwide who could not attend in person. According to his son David Caprio, supporters traveled from as far as the Philippines to pay their respects.
Providence resident Freida Adams, who had appeared before Caprio for a parking ticket, attended the memorial services. She recalled how Caprio had waived her fine after learning she had been a foster mother to 27 children over the years. Adams emphasized Caprio’s fairness and caring nature, stating that more judges like him would make the world better.
The Providence Municipal Courtroom was renamed in Caprio’s honor in October 2023, shortly after his retirement. His legacy continues through the countless acts of kindness he inspired throughout his career, with his family expressing hope that his message of compassion will live on. Caprio is survived by his wife Joyce, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
