Marjoe Gortner, former child preacher and actor from ‘Earthquake’ and ‘Falcon Crest,’ passes away at 82
Marjoe Gortner, the once-celebrated child preacher who rose to fame in the 1970s as a captivating revivalist and later transitioned to acting, passed away on Friday at the age of 82. His family confirmed that Gortner succumbed to complications from congestive heart failure.
Gortner was a unique figure in both religious and entertainment circles. He began his acting career with a contract at Universal Pictures, making his debut in 1973 as a drug addict in the telefilm “The Marcus-Nelson Murders,” which set the stage for the CBS crime series “Kojak,” starring Telly Savalas. His notable contributions to film also include pivotal roles in disaster classics like “Earthquake” (1974), where he portrayed Jody Joad, a National Guardsman, and the psychopathic Vietnam veteran in “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?” (1979).
His connection to the entertainment industry was not purely incidental; Gortner’s background as a child preacher provided rich material for his later roles. He was associated with the CBS soap opera “Falcon Crest” during its sixth season, where he played Vince Karlotti, a polygamist and self-styled psychic medium, showcasing the blend of drama and eccentricity that characterized his career.
Born Hugh Marjoe Ross Gortner on January 14, 1944, in Long Beach, California, he was ordained as a preacher by his parents at the age of four. His sermons, infused with dramatic flair, captivated audiences and led to significant financial success for his family. Yet, as a teenager, Gortner experienced disillusionment when his father absconded with the family’s wealth just before his 16th birthday.
In a quest to reconcile his past with his present, Gortner allowed a film crew to document his final revival tour in 1971. The resulting documentary, “Marjoe,” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972 and won an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. The film offered a candid look at the manipulative techniques of revivalist preaching and suggested that Gortner’s transformation from preacher to performer had been both deliberate and complex.
Following the documentary’s success, Gortner recorded an album titled “Bad, but Not Evil,” which included renditions of Bob Dylan’s works. His cinematic credits expanded further, leading to appearances in diverse projects, including “Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw” and “Viva Knievel!” His television presence was marked by guest spots on series such as “The A-Team,” “Fantasy Island,” and “Wild Bill,” the latter being one of his last roles.
Gortner is survived by his fifth wife, Susan, whom he married in 2019, and had previously been married to actress Candy Clark of “American Graffiti” fame. His multi-faceted career reflects a life spent at the intersection of faith, performance, and entertainment that continues to resonate in popular culture.
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