Televangelist Jim Bakker, who built a faith-based empire before resigning amid scandal, dies at 86
CNN • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Jim Bakker, a prominent televangelist known for his rise in Christian television during the 1970s and ’80s and later scandal, has died at age 86, as announced by his wife Lori Bakker.
- Bakker gained fame with his wife Tammy Faye through the PTL Club and the Heritage USA theme park, which became a major Christian entertainment empire before collapsing amid financial and sexual scandals in the late 1980s.
- In 1987, Bakker resigned following revelations of an affair and financial misconduct, leading to a fraud conviction and prison sentence; he was paroled in 1994 and later returned to televangelism with a new ministry.
- Despite controversies, including a 2020 lawsuit over false COVID-19 cure claims, Bakker remained active in ministry until health issues forced a sabbatical; he is remembered for his long commitment to preaching and Christian television pioneering.
- Bakker’s legacy includes both his influential role in Christian media and his highly publicized fall from grace, with his life and career depicted in documentaries and films highlighting his complex journey.
