John Bradshaw was a talk-show host and self-help icon best known for his message to millions to explore their “inner child.” He was a best-selling author, motivational speaker and was a Daytime Emmy Award winner. He won in 1991 for his work as a talk show host on the self-help series Bradshaw On: Homecoming.

After going through a personal struggle with drugs and alcohol, and armed with a background in counseling, Bradshaw rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s as the host of the nationally syndicated PBS series Bradshaw On: The Family.

He also hosted lectures attended by thousands, and led smaller grief workshops. He appeared on more than 800 television and radio shows and served as an unofficial advisor to Steven Spielberg on the 1991 film Hook.

After attending seminary school and working briefly as a teacher at his former high school, he began teaching adult Sunday school classes, working with addicts in the church’s drug-abuse program, and appearing on local television as the host of the talk show Spotlight.

He went on to author seven books, selling more than 12.5 million copies in all. They were published in 42 languages, and included the titles Bradshaw On: Healing the Shame that Binds You, Homecoming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child, Creating Love and Family Secrets: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You.

Bradshaw died May 8, 2016, in Houston, Texas. He was 82.