Marjoe Gortner, who gained prominence as a child preacher and later transitioned to acting, died Friday at age 82. His death resulted from complications related to congestive heart failure, according to his family.
Gortner was born Hugh Marjoe Ross Gortner on January 14, 1944, in Long Beach, California. His parents, both involved in evangelical ministry, had him ordained as a preacher at age 4, when he performed a marriage ceremony for a Paramount newsreel. As he grew, he became known for his dynamic preaching style at revival meetings across the United States, and his family accumulated an estimated $3 million during this period before his father departed with the funds shortly before Gortner turned 16.
In 1971, Gortner allowed a film crew to document his final revival tour, resulting in the 1972 documentary Marjoe, produced and directed by Howard Smith and Sarah Kernochan. The film debuted at Cannes and won the Academy Award for best feature documentary. In the documentary, Gortner discussed how he and other evangelists manipulated audiences during revivals and was filmed counting collected money in his hotel room. Following the documentary’s success and a 1972 album recording, Gortner signed a contract with Universal Pictures and began his acting career.
His filmography included roles in the 1973 television film The Marcus-Nelson Murders, which served as the pilot for the series Kojak; the disaster film Earthquake (1974); When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder? (1979); and the 1976 film Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw. He also appeared in various television series including Falcon Crest, The A-Team, Fantasy Island, and Hotel. His survivors include his fifth wife, Susan, whom he married in 2019.
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