Judge Frank Caprio, who starred for two seasons on the syndicated courtroom show Caught in Providence and became a social media star in clips displaying his compassion, kindness and empathy, died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer,

The pride of Rhode Island spent nearly 40 years on the bench, and cases were filmed in his courtroom for more than two decades.

Frank Caprio, a beloved retired municipal judge from Providence, Rhode Island who became famous for his compassionate rulings on the reality show “Caught in Providence,” has died at the age of 88 after a long battle with cancer,