Introduction
Estus Pirkle (March 12, 1930 – March 3, 2005) was an American Baptist minister. In addition to his preaching, Pirkle was known for creating and starring in his own Christian films as well as writing numerous books. His films often feature a character who changes for the better at the end.
Biography
Estus Pirkle was born as Estus Washington Pirkle on March 12, 1930, in Vienna, Georgia.
Pirkle made three films—all of them were directed by Ron Ormond and produced by the Ormond Organization of Nashville, Tennessee. In 1971, he produced If Footmen Tire You What Will Horses Do?, starring Judy Creech, Cecil Scaife, and Gene McFall. The film is based on Pirkle's teachings and warns of the dangers facing the United States from Communist infiltrators. The film suggests that the only way to avoid such a fate is to turn to Christianity. It has attracted something of a cult following among secular fans because of its explicit depictions of torture and mass murder and the heavy-handed nature of its evangelical message. The title paraphrases Jeremiah 12:5.
In 1974, Pirkle wrote the story for The Burning Hell that starred Jimmy Robbins, Tim Ormond, and Robert G. Lee. The film is his interpretation of what the Bible has to say about hell. It is available in Spanish, Portuguese, Malayalam, Tamil and English. The screenplay is by Ron Ormond. The companion movie The Believer's Heaven (1977) gives Pirkle's interpretation of what the Bible has to say about heaven. Pirkle's preaching was sampled by Negativland for the song "Christianity Is Stupid".
Books
- If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? – 1968
- Wintertime – 1968
- Preachers in space – 1969
- What Are You Living For? – 1969
- Sermon Outlines Include- Winter-time, Footmen, Heaven, Hell, Everlastng Life – 1969
- The 1611 King James Bible: A study – 1994
- The official biography of Percy Ray: A ray for God – 1998
Personal life
Pirkle married Annie Catherine Gregory (March 28, 1932 — June 28, 2020) on August 18, 1955. They had a daughter and a son, Mississippi Republican politician Greg Pirkle, who also appeared in all his father's films.
Death
Pirkle died on March 3, 2005, in Tupelo, Mississippi, at the age of 75.
Filmography
- If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? (1971)
- The Burning Hell (1974)
- The Believer's Heaven (1977)