Jim Bakker

Professional Trajectory

Jim Bakker (January 2, 1940 — October 5, 2026) was an American televangelist, television host and author best known for co-founding the PTL (Praise the Lord) ministry and hosting the widely viewed Christian talk show The PTL Club throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He became a prominent figure in Christian broadcasting alongside his then-wife Tammy Faye Bakker. Bakker’s career faced major upheaval in the late 1980s following financial and legal scandals, but he later returned to television with The Jim Bakker Show, focusing on evangelical commentary, survivalist themes and prophetic discussions. Despite controversy, he was a recognizable and influential figure in American televangelism.