Mike Rinder, a former senior executive with the Church of Scientology who later pivoted to criticizing the controversial religious organization publicly with a blog, a podcast and a docuseries co-starring ex-member Leah Remini, has died. He was 69.
The Emmy winner posted about his own impending death Sunday on his personal blog, announcing that the missive — titled "Farewell" — would be the last post on his website.
"I have shuffled off this mortal coil in accordance with the immutable law that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes," his message said, adding, "I rest in peace."
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"My only real regret is not having achieved what I said I wanted to — ending the abuses of Scientology, especially disconnection and seeing [my son] Jack into adulthood," the whistleblower wrote. "If you are in any way fighting to end those abuses please keep the flag flying — never give up."
Read more: From the archives: The Scientology story, a special report
The Tampa Bay Times reported that Rinder died Sunday in Palm Harbor, Fla., due to esophageal cancer.
Rinder — who appeared in the bombshell 2015 documentary "Going Clear" and produced and appeared in the subsequent A&E docuseries "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" — said his website would remain active as an archive with more than 4,000 posts. He described the site as "a labor of love and passion which has allowed me to speak my mind and offer my perspective with no outside filters."
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