Jim Bakker

In 1974 Jim Bakker and his first wife, Tammy Faye, founded the Christian television programme The PTL Club, which grew into a broadcast empire that included the Heritage USA theme park in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The ministry collapsed in 1987 amid a sex scandal and revelations about the use of ministry funds. In 1989 he was convicted on federal counts including mail and wire fraud and conspiracy; his original 45-year sentence was reduced and he was paroled in 1994. His life with Tammy Faye was the subject of the 2021 film The Eyes of Tammy Faye. His wife, Lori Bakker, announced that he died on the evening of October 5 at the age of 86; the cause of death was not released.