The world is a slightly better place today. Grotesque televangelist Ernest Angley finally kicks the bucket at age 99. Didn't think this guy would ever croak.

Here's a collage portrait I did of the creep for the Cleveland weekly in 1999.

Ernest Angley is an institution, and a curse, in my hometown. He showed up in Akron in 1954, following the hordes of West Virginians who came north to the Rubber City to work at the factories and (especially) driving trucks.

He was a preposterous little goblin, with a ridiculous jet-black wig, a sing-song drawl, and prissy white suits. He danced and strutted around his stage, mesmerizing his brainwashed flock. There's little doubt he was totally gay, although of course he was a fervent gay-basher.

Angley was one of the first televangelists. His show was a ridiculous spectacle that appeared on low-end UHF stations. Angley was infamous for his "healing" sessions at the end of every show.

He would smack a devotee in the the forehead while yowling "HEEEEEEEAL!" or "OOOOOOW-TA FOUL DEMONS!!" and the now-healed wretch, moaning and drooling, arms held high, would fall back into the waiting arms of some church goons. Robin Williams adopted his schitck in his routines.

Naturally, Angley made millions. He also had one scandal after another. In the 1980s, he claimed Jesus could cure AIDS and urged HIV patients in his flock to forego treatment. They all died.

He used unpaid and underaged volunteers to run his popular buffet cafeteria, which served dreadful overpriced slop to thousands of clueless rubes every week. One of these teenagers was murdered right there in the cafeteria by an older stalker, who was also an Angley follower.

And, finally, the Akron Beacon Journal uncovered his habit of "inspecting" the genitals of underaged parishioners. They'd be wheeled into his office where the 90-something creep would have them de-pants so he could take a closer look and make sure they were fit to sire progeny.

He survived to the end, fleecing old ladies, and dodging repeated accusations of abuse and dodgy finances. Local authorities apparently had no stomach to take him on. I think most Akronites felt if people are stupid enough to fall under his spell, they deserve what they get.

Recent photo of the cadaverous old perv.