Dr. James Dobson, the influential evangelical Christian leader and child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family, died on Thursday at the age of 89. His death was confirmed by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.
A statement from his family announced his passing, but did not specify the cause of death. Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson became a prominent voice in Christian media and a key figure on the Christian right. He established Focus on the Family in 1977, building it into a major organization with a global reach. The ministry, at its peak, employed over 1,000 people and provided a platform for Dobson to weigh in on legislative matters and advise political leaders.
Dobson’s career was marked by his advocacy for socially conservative values and his influence on American politics. He advised five U.S. presidents, including Donald Trump, and was a vocal opponent of abortion and efforts to prohibit conversion therapy. In a 2022 broadcast, he praised Trump for his role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In 2010, Dobson left Focus on the Family to establish the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, where he continued his daily radio program, Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson.
According to the institute, his broadcasts were syndicated on thousands of radio stations and translated into numerous languages, reaching millions of listeners worldwide. Throughout his life, Dobson authored over 70 books focused on parenting and traditional family values. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley; their children, Danae and Ryan; a daughter-in-law, Laura; and two grandchildren.