Marjoe Gortner, the renowned child preacher whose life was captured in the Oscar-winning documentary Marjoe, passed away at the age of 82 due to complications from congestive heart failure, as confirmed by his wife Susan Magestro. Gortner was born on January 14, 1944, in Long Beach, California, and became famous early on after being pushed into preaching by his evangelical parents, earning significant sums before becoming disillusioned with the movement.
In his 20s, he transitioned to acting after allowing filmmakers to document his final revival tour, leading to the creation of Marjoe in 1972, which earned acclaim and accolades. He later starred in various television series, such as Police Story and Barnaby Jones, and appeared in films including Earthquake and The Food of the Gods. His most notable role was in the soap opera Falcon Crest in the late ’80s.
Gortner’s contributions to charity through celebrity sports events were highlighted in tributes, including one from actor Ian Ziering, who praised him for raising millions for various causes. His career slowed in the ’90s, with his final film role in The Debtors (1999).
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