Frank Caprio, the Rhode Island judge who became a viral sensation as “the nicest judge in the world,” has died at 88 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family confirmed Wednesday.
Just hours before his passing, Caprio shared a video on Instagram asking his followers to keep him in their prayers. “I’m coming to you again asking you to remember me in your prayers once more,” he said. “So I ask you again if it’s not too much that you can remember me in your prayers.”
The longtime judge regularly updated his 3.2 million Instagram followers about his health struggles. Caprio served at the Providence Municipal Court, which inspired the Emmy-nominated series Caught in Providence that brought him national recognition for his compassion and empathy in the courtroom.
“Judge Frank Caprio passed away peacefully at the age of 88 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer,” read a statement on his official Facebook page. His son also confirmed his death.
Caprio revealed his diagnosis in 2023 in an emotional social media message, explaining that he was undergoing treatment in Rhode Island and Boston. In 2024, he announced he had completed radiation therapy, sharing a hopeful update: “After my final radiation treatment Baptist Health Cancer Care Baptist Health, I rang the bell and am on my way to happy days!” He also shared a photo from Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute marking the milestone and later announced he was working on a book in early 2025.
In recent weeks, however, his health declined. Posts from his hospital bed were shared late Tuesday, and soon after, his family announced his passing.
