Dr. James Dobson, a pioneering clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and one of the most prominent voices in American evangelical Christianity, died on August 21, 2025, at the age of 89.
Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson built a media and ministry empire that shaped family values debates for more than five decades. He founded Focus on the Family in California in the mid-1970s, growing it into a leading evangelical organization dedicated to marriage, parenting, religious liberty, and pro-life advocacy. The ministry’s radio programs eventually reached more than 4,000 stations across North America and were translated into 27 languages.
After relocating the organization to Colorado Springs in 1991, Dobson authored more than 70 books, including the influential The New Dare to Discipline. He championed abstinence education, efforts to reduce teen pregnancy, and the sanctity of life from conception, while warning against cultural changes he viewed as threats to traditional families. He stepped down from Focus on the Family in 2010 and established the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute to continue his work.
Dobson’s influence extended to the highest levels of politics. He advised five U.S. presidents, including George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, and served on Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their children Danae and Ryan, and grandchildren. His legacy remains one of steadfast advocacy for faith, family, and conservative Christian principles.
