Televangelist Jim Bakker Dies at 86 After Decades in Public Eye

Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built the PTL Club into a religious broadcasting empire before a 1980s scandal and fraud conviction brought it down, died Oct. 5 at age 86. His widow, Lori Bakker, announced his death on Oct. 6.

No cause of death was disclosed. Bakker had a stroke in 2020, from which he had partially recovered, and had continued to appear on his television program in recent years.

Bakker rose to prominence in the 1970s alongside his then-wife Tammy Faye Bakker, hosting the PTL Club, a Christian talk and variety show that drew millions of viewers and massive donations. At its peak, the ministry operated Heritage USA, a Christian theme park and resort in South Carolina that was among the most visited attractions in the country.

The empire collapsed in the late 1980s after revelations of a sexual encounter with a church secretary and the misuse of ministry funds. Bakker was convicted of fraud and conspiracy in 1989 and served nearly five years in federal prison.

After his release, Bakker rebuilt a smaller ministry, hosting “The Jim Bakker Show” with Lori and selling survival food and supplies to viewers. He remained a polarizing figure, drawing both loyal followers and sharp criticism for his apocalyptic predictions and product pitches.

His life story reached a new generation through the 2021 film “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” which portrayed the rise and fall of the Bakkers’ ministry and earned Jessica Chastain an Academy Award for her portrayal of Tammy Faye.

Bakker is survived by his wife Lori and his children. Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of Oct. 6.