Actor Marjoe Gortner, who first achieved fame as a child evangelist and later as a film and television performer, died on October 2 due to heart complications in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was 82.
His death was announced by his family. Gortner is best remembered for his role as the main villain in the disaster film Earthquake (1974) and for his recurring character, the corrupt psychic Vince Karlotti, in the series Falcon Crest during the 1986-87 season.
From child evangelist to star of an Oscar-winning documentary
Before beginning his acting career, Gortner was the subject and willing participant of the groundbreaking documentary Marjoe (1972), directed by Howard Smith and Sarah Kernochan. The film, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary, chronicled Gortner's youth as a Pentecostal preacher in the American South and exposed the deceptive practices used to extract money from believers.
Gortner was born Hugh Marjoe Ross Gortner on January 14, 1944, in Long Beach, California, into a family of evangelical preachers and con artists. He began preaching at age 4 after his parents noticed his precocious public speaking skills. On the religious revival circuit, he was known simply as Marjoe, a combination of the names Mary and Joseph. He eventually accused his parents of forcing him to deliver sermons with fabricated tales of visions and miracles under threat of death.
By his own estimates, Gortner generated more than $3 million for his family before he turned 16, a fortune that he claimed was ultimately stolen by his father, fellow preacher Vernon Gortner.
After privately renouncing the life of religious scams during his teenage years, Gortner returned to evangelism in his twenties. In 1971, he invited Smith and Kernochan to document what he presented as his final revival tour, with the goal of exposing the methods he and other evangelists used to financially deceive people.
The leap to television and the starring role in Earthquake
Fueled by the success of the documentary and the praise he received for his presence in it—New York Times critic Vincent Canby described the film as a feature-length screen test—Gortner soon became a television regular. He appeared as a guest on talk shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Merv Griffin Show, and landed a role in the television movie The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973), which served as the pilot episode for the series Kojak.
Throughout the 1970s, other roles followed, many playing on his image as a con-man preacher, including appearances in Medical Center and Barnaby Jones, as well as the television movies Pray for the Wildcats and The Gun and the Pulpit.
His big break in film came in 1974 with a prominent role as the main villain in Mark Robson's disaster movie Earthquake. In it, he played a store manager turned murderous National Guardsman who stalks the character played by Victoria Principal. Although critics panned the film, audiences—drawn in part by it being the first movie to use the Sensurround sound system, which made theater seats vibrate—turned it into a box-office hit.
Principal remembered him in a Facebook post on Tuesday. According to her, they met in 1973 while filming Earthquake, and she described him as complicated, generous, and kind, adding that thanks to him, she discovered the freedom of moving from Hollywood to Malibu.
A filmography of 15 movies and over 20 television series
In addition to Earthquake, Gortner starred in the 1979 film adaptation of Mark Medoff's play When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?, in which he played a tormented Vietnam veteran who terrorizes a group of people in a diner.
Following the success of Earthquake, he found steady work in 1970s films such as the science fiction movie Food of the Gods, as well as Acapulco Gold, Viva Knievel!, and Starcrash. During the 1980s, he worked increasingly in television, with episodes of series such as Fantasy Island, The A-Team, T.J. Hooker, Hotel, Airwolf, and most notably Falcon Crest, where he played the character of Vince Karlotti in 17 episodes.
One of his final credits was the 1995 film Wild Bill, starring Jeff Bridges as Wild Bill Hickok, in which Gortner returned to playing a preacher.
Personal life
Gortner was married five times, including a brief union between 1978 and 1979 with American Graffiti actress Candy Clark, whom he met during the filming of When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?
He is survived by his wife, Susan Magestro.
Frequently asked questions about Marjoe Gortner
How did Marjoe Gortner die?
Marjoe Gortner passed away on October 2 due to heart complications in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the age of 82, as confirmed by his family.
Why is Marjoe Gortner famous?
Gortner first became famous as a child evangelist and later as the star of the 1972 Oscar-winning documentary Marjoe. He subsequently developed an acting career, standing out for his role as a villain in Earthquake and for playing Vince Karlotti in Falcon Crest.
What role did Marjoe Gortner play in Earthquake?
In the 1974 film Earthquake, Gortner played the main villain, a store manager turned National Guardsman who stalks the character played by Victoria Principal.
What character did he play in Falcon Crest?
During the 1986-87 season of Falcon Crest, Gortner had a recurring role as the corrupt psychic Vince Karlotti, appearing in 17 episodes.
Who survives Marjoe Gortner?
According to information provided by his family, he is survived by his wife, Susan Magestro.
