Televangelist Jim Bakker, who built a faith-based empire before resigning amid scandal, dies at 86
His ministry drew up to 13 million nightly viewers before scandals led to fraud convictions and prison time.
- On Monday, televangelist Jim Bakker died at age 86, his wife, Lori Bakker, announced. No cause of death was immediately disclosed.
- Bakker rose to prominence in the 1970s as co-host of "The PTL Club," which he launched with Tammy Faye Bakker, becoming a pioneer of Christian television and developing the PTL Satellite Network.
- Following his 1987 resignation after paying hush money to a church secretary, Bakker was indicted on fraud and conspiracy charges, receiving a 45-year prison sentence before his parole in 1994.
- After his release, Bakker hosted "The Jim Bakker Show" alongside Lori from Branson, Missouri. His church paid $156,000 in 2021 to settle a lawsuit over coronavirus supplement claims.
- Lori stated her husband devoted 66 years to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life inspired portrayals by actors including Andrew Garfield and Kevin Spacey in theatrical productions.
154 Articles
154 Articles
American televangelist Jim Bakker, who built an empire of millions of dollars and lived in luxury before his reputation was destroyed by a sexual scandal, a conviction for fraud because he cheated on his followers, and by the divorce of Tammy Faye, his wife and co-presenter in broadcasts, died on Monday...
US televangelist Jim Bakker, ensnared in fraud and sex scandal, dead at 86 - Regional Media News
By Will Dunham Oct 5 (Reuters) - U.S. televangelist Jim Bakker, who built a multimillion-dollar empire and lived in opulence before being disgraced by a sex scandal, fraud conviction for bilking followers and divorce from television co-host Tammy Faye, died on Monday at age 86. [...]
American TV evangelist Jim Bakker has died at the age of 86. He rose to prominence in the 1970s and 80s when he hosted the program The PTL Club, an abbreviation for Praise The Lord. Later, he became embroiled in controversy due to bribing churchgoers and making false medical claims. His wife, Lori Bakker, announced his passing via Facebook. "With a broken heart, I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went to the Lord tonight," she wrote. …
Televangelist Jim Bakker, once imprisoned for scandal, dies at 87
(RNS) — By the time Bakker, and his first wife Tammy Faye were forced to give up their Praise The Lord ministry — known as ‘PTL’ — in 1987, they were a well-known television couple with a loyal following.
Televangelist Jim Bakker, convicted in PTL fraud case, dies at 86
Televangelist Jim Bakker, who co-founded the PTL Club and built the Heritage USA Christian theme park with his then-wife Tammy Faye, has died at 86, his family announced; his cause of death was not disclosed. His ministry collapsed amid scandal and fraud convictions in the 1980s, and he later returned to Christian television in Missouri. · 15 sources across the spectrum on IJR News.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
