Obituaries

Jim Bakker, 'PTL Club' televangelist and fmr husband of Tammy Faye, dead at 86​

Jim Bakker had admitted to a sexual encounter with a church clerk and was convicted of financial crimes​


Televangelist Jim Bakker, who rose to fame with the "The PTL Club" TV show before admitting to a sexual encounter with a church clerk and being convicted of financial crimes, has died at the age of 86.

Bakker's second wife, Lori, said Jim passed away on Monday. His cause of death is unclear, and it comes after Bakker suffered a stroke in 2020.

"It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening," Lori Bakker said in a statement. "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 added.


Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker speak to a television audience at PTL Ministry.


Bakker was born in Muskegon, Michigan, and attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, where he met his first wife, Tammy Faye. They married in 1961 and dropped out of college to start their own traveling ministry. He preached, while she sang and played the accordion as they crossed the country, visiting churches and tent revivals.

"In the 1960s, he joined the Christian Broadcasting Network under the direction of Pat Robertson. Jim developed one of the first daily, one-hour, kids’ shows for Christians called 'Come On Over,'" read a biography of Bakker on his website. "He also later became the first host of a ground-breaking talk show called 'The 700 Club,' featuring many of the top ministers and singers of the day."

Bakker then left CBN in 1972 and two years later formed the PTL Satellite Network. "The PTL Club" — with PTL standing for "Praise the Lord" — became its signature show.

However, Bakker's empire began to unravel in March 1987 when he admitted to a sexual encounter with church clerk Jessica Hahn, forcing him to turn over operations to pastor and broadcaster Jerry Falwell.

In 1988, Bakker was indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy after an investigation of PTL’s finances. He was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, though the sentence was later reduced to eight years.

At a news conference after Bakker was found guilty, Tammy Faye stood in front of the microphones and sang the hymn, "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand," the AP reported.

Tammy Faye then divorced Bakker in 1992 while he was still in prison. She married Roe Messner, a building contractor whose projects included the Heritage USA theme park. Messner spent about two years in prison after being convicted of bankruptcy fraud in 1995, while Tammy Faye later died of colon cancer in 2007.

Bakker, meanwhile, was released on parole in 1995 and married Lori in 1998. The couple launched "The Jim Bakker Show" on the PTL Satellite Network five years later.
 
Brick said:

Jim Bakker, 'PTL Club' televangelist and fmr husband of Tammy Faye, dead at 86​

Jim Bakker had admitted to a sexual encounter with a church clerk and was convicted of financial crimes​


Televangelist Jim Bakker, who rose to fame with the "The PTL Club" TV show before admitting to a sexual encounter with a church clerk and being convicted of financial crimes, has died at the age of 86.

Bakker's second wife, Lori, said Jim passed away on Monday. His cause of death is unclear, and it comes after Bakker suffered a stroke in 2020.

"It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening," Lori Bakker said in a statement. "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 added.


Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker speak to a television audience at PTL Ministry.


Bakker was born in Muskegon, Michigan, and attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, where he met his first wife, Tammy Faye. They married in 1961 and dropped out of college to start their own traveling ministry. He preached, while she sang and played the accordion as they crossed the country, visiting churches and tent revivals.

"In the 1960s, he joined the Christian Broadcasting Network under the direction of Pat Robertson. Jim developed one of the first daily, one-hour, kids’ shows for Christians called 'Come On Over,'" read a biography of Bakker on his website. "He also later became the first host of a ground-breaking talk show called 'The 700 Club,' featuring many of the top ministers and singers of the day."

Bakker then left CBN in 1972 and two years later formed the PTL Satellite Network. "The PTL Club" — with PTL standing for "Praise the Lord" — became its signature show.

However, Bakker's empire began to unravel in March 1987 when he admitted to a sexual encounter with church clerk Jessica Hahn, forcing him to turn over operations to pastor and broadcaster Jerry Falwell.

In 1988, Bakker was indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy after an investigation of PTL’s finances. He was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, though the sentence was later reduced to eight years.

At a news conference after Bakker was found guilty, Tammy Faye stood in front of the microphones and sang the hymn, "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand," the AP reported.

Tammy Faye then divorced Bakker in 1992 while he was still in prison. She married Roe Messner, a building contractor whose projects included the Heritage USA theme park. Messner spent about two years in prison after being convicted of bankruptcy fraud in 1995, while Tammy Faye later died of colon cancer in 2007.

Bakker, meanwhile, was released on parole in 1995 and married Lori in 1998. The couple launched "The Jim Bakker Show" on the PTL Satellite Network five years later.
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RIP Coach

Ditka had some family in the area I grew up in and I'd see him from time to time at the church my family and I attended. We never bugged him, but he always came across to me as a classy guy. Dude was (well, still is... immediately after the news broke I got 5 texts from buddies) BELOVED In Chicago.

Hell of a run, outlived quite a few of his players and used his celebrity/fame to do a lot of good for early pioneers of the NFL (securing healthcare and things of that nature). He will be missed.



Legendary coach, Hall of Fame TE Mike Ditka dies at age 86​



Mike Ditka, the legendary former Chicago Bears coach and first tight end ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 86, his family announced Friday.

Ditka rose to national prominence after leading the 1985 Bears, a team that boasted arguably the greatest defense in NFL history, to the franchise's only Super Bowl title.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," his family said in a statement. "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family.

"Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever."

No cause of death was announced.

Known for his fiery temper, Ditka often clashed with members of the 1985 team, including quarterback Jim McMahon and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, but the Bears cruised to a 15-1 regular-season record and easily defeated the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

Hired by his former coach and Bears founder George Halas in 1982, Ditka led the Bears to the playoffs seven times in his 11 seasons and played in the NFC Championship Game on three occasions.

The fifth overall pick of the 1961 NFL draft by the Bears, Ditka won Rookie of the Year after becoming the first tight end to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. He played six years for the Bears, two for the Philadelphia Eagles and four for the Dallas Cowboys. Ditka was a member of the Bears' 1963 NFL championship team and the Cowboys' squad that won Super Bowl VI.

He was the first tight end enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, being inducted in 1988.
The Bears fired Ditka after the 1992 season, but he resurfaced with the Saints in 1997. He was unable to replicate the success he had in Chicago, however, going 15-33 in his three seasons in New Orleans.

Ditka's run in New Orleans is best remembered for the trade that brought running back Ricky Williams to the Saints. New Orleans traded eight draft picks, including two first-round selections, to Washington for the right to move up and draft Williams fifth overall in 1999.

Ditka and Williams famously appeared on a 1999 ESPN The Magazine cover. Ditka was in a tuxedo alongside Williams, who wore a wedding gown, to symbolize their football marriage.

Ditka's short stint in New Orleans had no negative impact on his marketability. He became an icon in Chicago, opening several restaurants and endorsing a long list of products, including wine, cigars and sausages. He starred in television commercials and appeared, as himself, in several television shows and in Will Ferrell's 2005 comedy "Kicking and Screaming."

"Saturday Night Live" even aired an ongoing skit titled "Bill Swerski's Superfans" that paid tribute to Ditka and "Da Bears."

After his coaching career, Ditka worked as an analyst, first at NBC and then for ESPN. He was a member of ESPN's "Sunday Morning Countdown" from 2006 to 2015.

A native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Ditka, born Oct. 18, 1939, was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) at Pitt who pursued a career in football after college.

As a tight end, Ditka led Pitt in receiving in each of his three seasons on varsity (1958-60) and was a unanimous All-America selection in 1960.

After his playing career, Ditka spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for Tom Landry in Dallas before Halas tabbed him to replace Neill Armstrong following the 1981 season.

Ditka suffered a pair of heart attacks, including one in 1988 while he was Bears coach, as well as a minor stroke in 2012.
 
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osubuckeye4 said:
RIP Coach

Ditka had some family in the area I grew up in and I'd see him from time to time at the church my family and I attended. We never bugged him, but he always came across to me as a classy guy. Dude was (well, still is... immediately after the news broke I got 5 texts from buddies) BELOVED In Chicago.

Hell of a run, outlived quite a few of his players and used his celebrity/fame to do a lot of good for early pioneers of the NFL (securing healthcare and things of that nature). He will be missed.



Legendary coach, Hall of Fame TE Mike Ditka dies at age 86​



Mike Ditka, the legendary former Chicago Bears coach and first tight end ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 86, his family announced Friday.

Ditka rose to national prominence after leading the 1985 Bears, a team that boasted arguably the greatest defense in NFL history, to the franchise's only Super Bowl title.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," his family said in a statement. "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family.

"Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever."

No cause of death was announced.

Known for his fiery temper, Ditka often clashed with members of the 1985 team, including quarterback Jim McMahon and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, but the Bears cruised to a 15-1 regular-season record and easily defeated the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

Hired by his former coach and Bears founder George Halas in 1982, Ditka led the Bears to the playoffs seven times in his 11 seasons and played in the NFC Championship Game on three occasions.

The fifth overall pick of the 1961 NFL draft by the Bears, Ditka won Rookie of the Year after becoming the first tight end to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. He played six years for the Bears, two for the Philadelphia Eagles and four for the Dallas Cowboys. Ditka was a member of the Bears' 1963 NFL championship team and the Cowboys' squad that won Super Bowl VI.

He was the first tight end enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, being inducted in 1988.
The Bears fired Ditka after the 1992 season, but he resurfaced with the Saints in 1997. He was unable to replicate the success he had in Chicago, however, going 15-33 in his three seasons in New Orleans.

Ditka's run in New Orleans is best remembered for the trade that brought running back Ricky Williams to the Saints. New Orleans traded eight draft picks, including two first-round selections, to Washington for the right to move up and draft Williams fifth overall in 1999.

Ditka and Williams famously appeared on a 1999 ESPN The Magazine cover. Ditka was in a tuxedo alongside Williams, who wore a wedding gown, to symbolize their football marriage.

Ditka's short stint in New Orleans had no negative impact on his marketability. He became an icon in Chicago, opening several restaurants and endorsing a long list of products, including wine, cigars and sausages. He starred in television commercials and appeared, as himself, in several television shows and in Will Ferrell's 2005 comedy "Kicking and Screaming."

"Saturday Night Live" even aired an ongoing skit titled "Bill Swerski's Superfans" that paid tribute to Ditka and "Da Bears."

After his coaching career, Ditka worked as an analyst, first at NBC and then for ESPN. He was a member of ESPN's "Sunday Morning Countdown" from 2006 to 2015.

A native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Ditka, born Oct. 18, 1939, was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) at Pitt who pursued a career in football after college.

As a tight end, Ditka led Pitt in receiving in each of his three seasons on varsity (1958-60) and was a unanimous All-America selection in 1960.

After his playing career, Ditka spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for Tom Landry in Dallas before Halas tabbed him to replace Neill Armstrong following the 1981 season.

Ditka suffered a pair of heart attacks, including one in 1988 while he was Bears coach, as well as a minor stroke in 2012.
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At least he made it to the TE # years, 86.
 
RJ Mitte Dies: ‘Breaking Bad’ Actor Was 34

RJ Mitte, who played the son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White on the Emmy-winning series Breaking Bad and became a disability-rights activist from his experiences living with cerebral palsy, has died at age 34.

deadline.com

RJ Mitte Dead: 'Breaking Bad' Actor Was 34

RJ Mitte, who played the son of Bryan Cranston's Walter White on the Emmy-winning series Breaking Bad, has died at age 34.
deadline.com deadline.com

TMZ is reporting that his death was by suicide.
 
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