Televangelist Jim Bakker has died aged 86, his wife Lori has announced. He died on Monday night, October 5.
Bakker became prominent in the 1970s after building a Christian television empire with his then-wife, Tammy Faye Bakker. The enterprise collapsed amid a scandal in the late 1980s, and he was convicted of fraud and conspiracy.
He was sentenced to 45 years in prison but served about five years.
In a statement, Lori Bakker said: “It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening.”
She added: “For 66 years, Jim gave his life to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a pioneer of Christian television, but to me, he was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry.”
“Jim loved people deeply. He loved this ministry, and he loved the friends and partners who stood with him throughout the years. Even in his final days, his heart was still for the work of God and for the Gospel to continue reaching the world,” she said.
Bakker and Tammy Faye shared two children before separating and later remarrying. Tammy Faye died from cancer in 2007.
Lori asked for privacy as the family grieves, saying: “Our family is grieving and we ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.”
She added: “Jim finished his race with faith. His voice, his vision, and his legacy will never be forgotten.”
The couple’s rise and downfall were depicted in the 2021 film The Eyes of Tammy Faye, with Jessica Chastain playing Tammy Faye and Andrew Garfield portraying Jim Bakker. Chastain won the Oscar for Best Actress.
