Gortner’s death was reported by Variety; a cause was not immediately disclosed.
• He gained national attention through the 1972 documentary Marjoe, which followed his return to the revival circuit and exposed the staged practices behind his childhood preaching career.
• The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, making Gortner an unlikely figure in both religious and entertainment coverage.
• After leaving evangelism, he built a screen career that included roles in the disaster film Earthquake and appearances on television series including Falcon Crest.
• Gortner was born into a family of traveling evangelists and began preaching publicly as a young child, drawing large crowds and substantial donations.
• His later work reflected a sharp turn from the pulpit to Hollywood, where he appeared in films and television productions while speaking openly about his early experiences.
Through Marjoe, Gortner offered viewers an unusually candid account of the pressures, performance and financial incentives surrounding his childhood ministry.