Louisiana’s Jimmy Swaggart, long-time televangelist and one of the state’s most recognizable celebrities, has died at age 90. Swaggart’s rapid ascension came during the 80s, the golden era of televangelism. He wowed audiences with his hellfire and brimstone sermons and magnetic personality. At the height of his ministry, he reached 2 million homes. This collaborative effort produced a staggering new annual revenue source of $150 million!
Swaggart’s ministry was not without controversy. He reached the height of his fame during the late 1980s, but his legacy was marred with multiple scandals. The situation changed completely when a prostitution scandal brought his evangelical empire crashing down. When rival preacher Marvin Gorman leaked compromising photographs, it ignited a scandal. The resulting public scandal spared little public sympathy and wrought personal devastation upon Swaggart.
In a now-infamous television address in 1988, Swaggart wept. He admitted to the 2015 scandal what he now referred to as a “moral failure.” In public and private he asked Frances for her forgiveness and recognized the fallout from his sin would hurt his family and damage his ministry.
“I have sinned,” – Jimmy Swaggart
Even with these difficulties behind-the-scenes, Swaggart would go on to ride the televangelism wave full force. His ministry evolved in the years following, but never completely rebounded from the self-inflicted wounds caused by the scandals. Swaggart’s legacy continues to be a rich and colorful portrait of faith, controversy, and perseverance.
In recent months though, Swaggart had been fighting health problems. He ended up in the hospital one month prior to his death following a cardiac arrest. He is survived by his longtime wife, Frances, and son Donnie, who is a pastor.
Swaggart’s persona was the subject of relentless parody over the course of his career. Legendary comedian Phil Hartman absolutely crushed it on Saturday Night Live with his impersonation of him. This campy humor was a perfect representation of the public’s fascination with their distaste for televangelism during that time.
