Televangelist Jim Bakker dies aged 86, widow announces
Jim Bakker, the televangelist who co-founded and hosted "The PTL Club" with Tammy Faye Bakker, has died aged 86, his wife Lori Bakker announced on Monday 5 October.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Televangelist Jim Bakker has died aged 86, his wife Lori Bakker announced on Monday 5 October 2026. DeadlineN “Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built a media empire with former wife Tammy Faye Bakker, has died. He was 86.” Read at Deadline ↗ New York PostR “has died, his widow announced Monday. He was 86.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2Lori Bakker said in a social media post that her husband "went home to be with the Lord this evening"; Deadline describes the post as being on Instagram, while the New York Post says it was on "The Jim Bakker Show" Facebook page. DeadlineN “read the Instagram post from Monday, October 5.” Read at Deadline ↗ New York PostR “Lori Bakker wrote on “The Jim Bakker Show” Facebook page.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2She said he had given 66 years of his life to preaching the Gospel, calling him "a pioneer of Christian television", and asked for prayers and privacy for the grieving family. DeadlineN “For 66 years, Jim gave his life to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Read at Deadline ↗ New York PostR “Our family is grieving and we ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.” Read at New York Post ↗
Centre · 1She added that "Jim finished his race with faith. His voice, his vision, and his legacy will never be forgotten." DeadlineN “Jim finished his race with faith. His voice, his vision, and his legacy will never be forgotten.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Bakker founded "The PTL Club", which he co-hosted with his first wife, Tammy Faye Bakker; Deadline gives the dates as 1974 to 1987 and the New York Post as 1974 to 1989. DeadlineN “Bakker founded The PTL Club, which he co-hosted with Tammy Faye from 1974 to 1987.” Read at Deadline ↗ New York PostR “from 1974 to 1989.” Read at New York Post ↗ Centre · 1Most recently he hosted "The Jim Bakker Show" on digital platforms. DeadlineN “Most recently, he was hosting The Jim Bakker Show on digital platforms.” Read at Deadline ↗
Right · 1The New York Post also recalls his scandals, including a $279,000 hush-money settlement to his church secretary. New York PostR “including a $279,000 hush-money settlement to his church secretary” Read at New York Post ↗ Centre · 1Deadline notes that Andrew Garfield played Bakker in 2021's "The Eyes of Tammy Faye", in which Jessica Chastain won the 2022 Best Actress Oscar as Tammy Faye, and that Kevin Spacey played him in the 1990 NBC film "Fall from Grace". DeadlineN “Andrew Garfield portrayed Jim Bakker in 2021’s The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Read at Deadline ↗ Right · 1No cause of death has been given in the coverage so far, and the New York Post marks its report as a developing story. New York PostR “This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Brief, factual obituary built on the widow's statement, with his media career and film portrayals.
- Emphasis
- Pioneering Christian TV career, the PTL Club, and portrayals in film and television.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the scandals or the hush-money settlement.
- For example
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“the televangelist who built a media empire with former wife Tammy Faye Bakker” — Deadline
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Leads with Bakker's scandals alongside the widow's tribute.
- Emphasis
- The $279,000 hush-money settlement and his reputation for scandal.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits his recent digital show and the film portrayals.
- Charged language
- “Disgraced”“Scandal-scarred”
- For example
-
“Disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker, who was as known for his scandals” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Jim Bakker died aged 86.
- His wife Lori Bakker announced the death on Monday 5 October.
- He co-hosted The PTL Club with Tammy Faye Bakker starting in 1974.
- Lori Bakker's statement called him a pioneer of Christian television and said he preached for 66 years.
Where accounts differ
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When The PTL Club ended and where the announcement was posted
- Centre
- Deadline says the PTL Club ran 1974 to 1987 and the announcement was an Instagram post.
- Right
- The New York Post says 1974 to 1989 and cites the Jim Bakker Show Facebook page.
Jim Bakker person
Through his widow's statement, he is presented as a devoted preacher and pioneer of Christian television who finished his race with faith.
“He was a pioneer of Christian television” — Deadline
Tammy Faye Bakker person
Named as Bakker's first wife and co-host of The PTL Club; coverage gives no statement from or about her beyond that.
“co-hosted with his first wife, Tammy Faye Bakker” — New York Post
Left2 articles
Centre2 articles
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Jim Bakker Dies: Televangelist Was 86
Neutral Straightforward obituary relaying the widow's statement and listing screen portrayals.
Right2 articles
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Scandal-scarred televangelist Jim Bakker dead at 86: ‘Finished his race with faith’
Critical Foregrounds scandal and the hush-money payment before the family's tribute.
- 6 Oct 04:20 First DeadlineN Jim Bakker Dies: Televangelist Was 86
- 6 Oct 05:08 +49m New York PostR Scandal-scarred televangelist Jim Bakker dead at 86: ‘Finished his race with faith’
- 6 Oct 05:15 +56m NBC NewsLC Jim Bakker, TV pastor who served time for defrauding followers, dies at 86
- 6 Oct 05:30 +1h 10m Just the NewsRC Jim Bakker, famed televangelist felled by scandal, dies at age 86
- 6 Oct 05:58 +1h 38m CBS NewsLC Jim Bakker, televangelist who co-founded "The PTL Club" empire, dies at 86
- 6 Oct 06:07 +1h 47m Hindustan TimesN Jim Bakker cause of death: What we know so far as televangelist dies at 86? All on scandal, family, and net worth
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.