Marjoe Gortner, who appeared in the film Earthquake, the TV show Falcon Crest, and was the focus of an Academy Award-winning documentary, has passed away at age 82.
Parents Ordained Child Preacher for Financial Gain
Hugh Marjoe Ross Gortner was born on January 14, 1944, in Long Beach, California, as reported by hollywoodreporter.com. His parents, Vernon and Marge, chose his name as a combination of Mary and Joseph. Due to his precocious speaking ability, his parents had him ordained as a preacher at age 4, a time when he officiated a wedding for a Paramount newsreel. Extratv.com noted that his parents pushed him into preaching ostensibly for his speaking gift, but primarily as a hook to make money.
As a long-haired child evangelist, Gortner delivered gyrating, dramatic sermons at revival meetings across the United States. His family amassed a fortune estimated to be worth $3 million. However, Gortner stated that his father took off with the money shortly before Gortner turned 16, leaving him to continue on the evangelist circuit to support himself, according to hollywoodreporter.com and extratv.com.
Documentary Exposure at Cannes
In his 20s, Gortner became disillusioned with the evangelical movement and pursued an acting career in New York, as noted by tribune.com.pk. He eventually rejoined the ministry as a way to earn a living. In 1971, he granted filmmakers Howard Smith and Sarah Kernochan access to follow him during his final revival tour, partially to help publicize his acting career, according to variety.com.
The resulting 1972 documentary, titled Marjoe, debuted at Cannes and won the Academy Award for best documentary feature. In the film, Gortner discussed how he and other evangelists manipulated regular folks during revivals and was shown in his hotel room counting collected money. Variety.com reported that Roger Ebert saw the film at Cannes and wrote that it generated the most electric response of anything at the festival.
Transition to Universal Pictures and Acting Roles
Following the documentary’s release, Gortner recorded an album in 1972 titled Bad, but Not Evil, which featured him singing Bob Dylan tracks, according to hollywoodreporter.com. With his resulting notoriety, he secured a contract at Universal Pictures. He made his first appearance on screen as the drug addict Teddy Hopper in the 1973 telefilm The Marcus-Nelson Murders, which acted as the pilot for the CBS crime series Kojak starring Telly Savalas.
In 1974, Gortner played Jody Joad, a grocery store manager turned National Guardsman, in the disaster movie Earthquake. His other film credits included Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw in 1976, Viva Knievel! in 1977, and the low-budget space opera Starcrash in 1978. On television, he appeared in series such as Police Story, Airwolf, The A-Team, and Fantasy Island.
Television Work on Falcon Crest
During the sixth season of the CBS primetime soap opera Falcon Crest from 1986 to 1987, Gortner drew on his real-life background. He portrayed Vince Karlotti, a colorful polygamist and faux psychic medium, across 17 episodes. Extratv.com noted that he played the huckster with aplomb, utilizing his colorful past before retiring from acting after the 1995 film Wild Bill.
Actor Produced Charitable Celebrity Sports Specials
Beyond acting, Gortner produced Circus of the Stars specials and celebrity sports invitationals that raised money for charity. Actor Ian Ziering recalled Gortner’s efforts to extratv.com, stating that he produced celebrity sports invitationals that aired on CBS Saturdays and brought celebrities together from all over the world to raise millions of dollars for different charities.
Gortner was married five times. He was briefly married to actress Candy Clark in the late 1970s after they co-starred in When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?. He is survived by his fifth wife, Susan Magestro, whom he married in 2019, according to extratv.com and variety.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marjoe Gortner
What was the premise of the Oscar-winning documentary Marjoe?
The 1972 documentary followed Gortner on his final revival tour as he exposed the manipulation and behind-the-scenes financial tracking of the Pentecostal church-and-tent circuit, featuring footage of him counting money in his hotel room.
How much money did Gortner’s family reportedly make during his childhood preaching?
According to reports cited by extratv.com and hollywoodreporter.com, Gortner’s family amassed an estimated $3 million through revival donations before his father allegedly took the funds when Gortner was 16 years old.
Which television shows featured Marjoe Gortner in guest or recurring roles?
Gortner appeared in series such as Kojak, Police Story, Airwolf, The A-Team, Fantasy Island, and played the recurring character Vince Karlotti across 17 episodes of Falcon Crest.
Who are Marjoe Gortner’s survivors?
He is survived by his fifth wife, Susan Magestro, whom he married in 2019, according to extratv.com and variety.com.
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