Jimmy Swaggart Dead at 90: A Look at His Family, Wife Frances, and Son Donnie

Jimmy Swaggart has died at the age of 90, two weeks after he was hospitalized.

The American preacher, known for pioneering televangelism, died earlier today. As of this writing, his cause of death remains unclear, though his family revealed that he suffered a cardiac arrest on June 15, prompting a trip to the hospital. He was admitted for his critical condition.

In his personal life, the Pentecostal pastor, author, and televangelist was married to Frances. They married when Swaggart, then 17, was living within modest means in the 1950s, and Frances was 15 years old.

They welcomed a son named Donnie not long after, who eventually became a preacher just like his father. Jimmy and Frances were married for over 72 years, having tied the knot on October 10, 1952.

Scroll down to learn all about Jimmy Swaggart's personal life.

Everything we know about Jimmy Swaggart's family, his early beginnings, and more

Several outlets have reported that early on in his career, when Jimmy Swaggart was newly married and just starting out, he and his wife were too poor to purchase a home. And so, they would stay in church basements, motels, and fellow pastors' homes. He reportedly had an income of $30 a week.

By 1955, Swaggart's career was gaining momentum, and by 1960, he'd launched his gospel music recording. The following year, he was ordained by the Assemblies of God, and by 1962, he kick-started his radio ministry. By the late 1960s, the preacher had founded his own church in Baton Rouge, called the Family Worship Center.

As for his son, Donnie, who is now 70, he previously opened up about how he didn't expect his dad to survive. Now a co-pastor at his father's worship center, he said in a video that came out on June 17 that he was hoping for a recovery, but “there has been no change.”

“Right now, he is in ICU and without a miracle, without a miracle, his time will be short. But we believe God. We’re not, we’re not giving up. We’ve already told the doctors we don’t wanna hear anything from them. We will make decisions in our own time. But we are going to give the Lord an opportunity to work.”

Jimmy Swaggart's career was also affected by multiple scandals. In the late 1980s, he even issued a public apology to his wife, whom he also credited with the success of his career.

"I have sinned against you," he told the audience at the time. "I beg you, forgive me."

Swaggart was back again in the news for another controversial reason in 1991, prompting the Assemblies to defrock him.

Donnie has since welcomed his own son, Gabriel, with Jimmy Swaggart's daughter-in-law, Debbie. They also share kids, Jennifer Swaggart and Matthew Aaron Swaggart. Moreover, the patriarch of the family is survived by his nine great-grandchildren.

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