Actor and evangelist Marjoe Gortner has died at the age of 82
5 october 2026 в 06:37
Marjoe Gortner, an actor and former child evangelist, passed away on October 2 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from heart failure. His wife Susan confirmed this information to Variety; he was 82 years old.
Susan noted that Marjoe lived an extraordinary life, possessing a rare gift for bringing people together. Actor Ian Ziering emphasized his charitable efforts, stating that Gortner was a «force of nature» and that his life story earned an Oscar. Ziering also recalled how Gortner organized celebrity sports events to raise funds for various charities.
Gortner was born on January 14, 1944, in Long Beach, California. At the age of 4, his parents made him an evangelist, which, according to him, became a way to make money. Estimates suggest that his family earned $ 3 million, which Gortner claims left with his father when he abandoned the family. At 16, he continued his career as an evangelist, and in 1971, he agreed to film a documentary about his final tour, which became a sensation and won an Oscar.
After that, Gortner began acting in films, with his most notable role being the psychopath Jody Joad in the movie «Earthquake» (1974). He also appeared in films such as «Bobby Joe and the Outlaw» (1976), «Food of the Gods» (1976), and «Viva Knievel!» (1977). Gortner left his acting career after the film «Wild Bill» in 1995 but occasionally appeared at autograph events. He was married five times, including to actress Candy Clark in the 1970s, and is survived by his widow Susan Magestro, whom he married in 2019.
Susan noted that Marjoe lived an extraordinary life, possessing a rare gift for bringing people together. Actor Ian Ziering emphasized his charitable efforts, stating that Gortner was a «force of nature» and that his life story earned an Oscar. Ziering also recalled how Gortner organized celebrity sports events to raise funds for various charities.
Gortner was born on January 14, 1944, in Long Beach, California. At the age of 4, his parents made him an evangelist, which, according to him, became a way to make money. Estimates suggest that his family earned $ 3 million, which Gortner claims left with his father when he abandoned the family. At 16, he continued his career as an evangelist, and in 1971, he agreed to film a documentary about his final tour, which became a sensation and won an Oscar.
After that, Gortner began acting in films, with his most notable role being the psychopath Jody Joad in the movie «Earthquake» (1974). He also appeared in films such as «Bobby Joe and the Outlaw» (1976), «Food of the Gods» (1976), and «Viva Knievel!» (1977). Gortner left his acting career after the film «Wild Bill» in 1995 but occasionally appeared at autograph events. He was married five times, including to actress Candy Clark in the 1970s, and is survived by his widow Susan Magestro, whom he married in 2019.
© Kolganov Andrey
