Tim LaHaye, Famed Evangelist & ‘Left Behind’ Author, Dies At 90

Evangelist Tim LaHaye, who is best known for writing the Left Behind series, has died. He was 90.

Tim LaHaye Dies

LaHaye died Monday at a hospital in San Diego from complications following a stroke, according to an obituary posted to Facebook by the LaHaye family.

LaHaye had made a name for himself in Christian circles as a prominent megachurch pastor. Over the course of his career, LaHaye, who promoted the concept of “rapture,” published a number of nonfiction books that covered topics such as marriage and creationism. As a leader in the Christian church, he founded several schools, as well as The Institute for Creation Research.

In 1995, LaFaye published the first of his popular Left Behind books, which he had co-written with novelist Jerry B. Jenkins. The books were centered on the idea of a “rapture” and the second-coming of Jesus that would preced it. In total, the Left Behind series contains 16 books.

The Left Behind novels have enjoyed a considerable amount of success and have been adapted into multiple films, video games, and even graphic novels.

LaHaye is survived by his wife of 69 years, Beverley LaHaye.