One of the personalities from Tiger King has died.
The body of Erik Cowie, featured as a zookeeper for Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic) in the popular Netflix docuseries, was found unconscious Friday at 5:30 p.m. in New York City, according to both TMZ and the New York Daily News. A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department confirmed to Yahoo Entertainment that a 52-year-old male was pronounced dead in the bedroom of an apartment at that time and that the medical examiner will determine the cause of death. However, the department is not yet identifying the deceased so that the family can be notified.
Cowie, who took care of Exotic’s cats when he appeared in the series, resided in Oklahoma. TMZ reported that he continued in that role even after Exotic was imprisoned for attempting to have rival Carole Baskin killed in a murder-for-hire plot and committing offenses against animals, and he testified against his former boss at his trial.
Yahoo Entertainment has reached out to Netflix for comment.
