{
  "id": 12302771,
  "title": "Jim Bakker, Controversial Televangelist and Ex-Husband of Tammy Faye Bakker, Dies at 86",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/jim-bakker-controversial-televangelist-and-ex-husband-of-tammy-faye",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T04:34:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/culture-lifestyle/culture/jim-bakker-dies-televangelist-tammy-faye-ex-husband/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jim Bakker, the once-controversial televangelist and ex-husband of Tammy Faye Bakker, passed away at the age of 86 on Monday evening. His wife, Lori, announced his death on Instagram, stating that he had \"gone home to be with the Lord.\" In a heartfelt message, Lori described Jim as her beloved husband, best friend, and partner in ministry. She expressed their family's grief and asked for privacy during this difficult time.\n\nJim Bakker gained fame in 1974 as the co-founder of the Christian television program, \"The PTL Club,\" which evolved into a vast religious broadcast empire, including the theme park Heritage USA. However, their fortune came to an end when it was revealed that Jim had misused church funds for personal gain. In 1988, he was indicted on 24 federal charges, including mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the public. He was also accused of drugging and raping church secretary Jessica Hahn while co-host John Wesley Fletcher claimed the encounter was consensual.\n\nBakker maintained his innocence regarding the sexual encounter but admitted to using church funds to bribe Hahn. He was found guilty on all charges after a five-week trial and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, which was later reduced, and he was released after serving five years. During his incarceration, Tammy Faye divorced him and married Roe Messner in 1992. In 1998, Jim remarried Lori Beth Graham, with whom he adopted five children. The couple was portrayed by Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain in the 2021 film \"The Eyes of Tammy Faye.\"",
  "summary": "\"His voice, his vision and his legacy will never be forgotten,\" his wife, Lori Bakker, writes The post Jim Bakker, Controversial Televangelist and Ex-Husband of Tammy Faye Bakker, Dies at 86 appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}