Gene Scott, 75; Pastor, Television Evangelist

Gene Scott, the shaggy, cigar-smoking televangelist whose eccentric religious broadcasts were beamed around the world, has died. He was 75.

Scott died Monday after a stroke, family spokesman Robert Emmers said.

For three decades, Scott was pastor of Los Angeles University Cathedral, a Protestant congregation of more than 15,000 members housed in a landmark downtown building.

In the mid-1970s, Scott began hosting a nightly live television broadcast of Bible teaching. His nightly talk show and Sunday morning church services were aired on radio and television stations to about 180 countries around the world by his University Network.

Scott was most recognizable by his mane of white hair and scruffy beard.

Scott was involved with Rebuild L.A., the Richard Pryor Burn Foundation and the Southwest Museum. In 2002, he gave $20,000 that helped save Museum in Black, which has about 5,000 items from the slave and civil rights eras.

Scott is survived by his wife, Melissa.

Services were pending.

A complete obituary will appear in Wednesday’s California section.