Jim Bakker, Televangelist Who Fell from Grace, Dies at 86

Jim Bakker, the American televangelist who co-founded The PTL Club with his then-wife Tammy Faye, has died at the age of 86, according to BBC News. Bakker passed away on [date not provided], though the cause of death has not been disclosed.

Bakker rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s as a charismatic televangelist, building a multimillion-dollar ministry that included the PTL Club television show and the Heritage USA theme park. However, his career was derailed by a sex scandal involving church secretary Jessica Hahn in 1987, followed by a fraud and conspiracy conviction in 1989 for overselling lifetime partnerships in Heritage USA. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison, though he was released on parole in 1994 after serving about five years. His then-wife Tammy Faye died in 2007.

Bakker's death marks the end of an era for televangelism, which he helped popularize but also became synonymous with its excesses and scandals. After his release, Bakker returned to television with a new program, but his legacy remains tainted by his criminal conviction. Reactions from former followers and fellow televangelists are expected, and his death may reignite discussions about accountability and ethics in religious broadcasting.