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Tiger King zookeeper and Netflix star Erik Cowie dies aged 53

Tiger King Zookeeper Erik Cowie has died aged 53.

He rocketed to fame on the Netflix show Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness alongside Joe Exotic.

It was reported the Netflix star was found “lying down face down” in bed on Friday in New York City.

This was far from where he lived and worked for many years in Oklahoma.

© Provided by Evening Standard He rocketed to fame on the Netflix show Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness alongside Joe Exotic (James Breeden for DailyMail.com)

News of his death hit headlines on Tuesday.

A law enforcement source told TMZ: “There’s nothing suspicious about the death at this point, and no drugs were found on the scene, though a toxicology test will likely still be performed.”

The star worked as an animal caretaker who was responsible for looking after big cats at the zoo.

Often he was cited and considered the head of big cats at the zoo.

Mr Cowie continued to work at the zoo after Exotic was jailed for attempting to hire someone to kill rival Carole Baskin.

At the time, the zookeeper testified against Exotic saying he had ordered some of the zoo animals to be shot which led to a conviction.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness swept the globe when the series made its debut on Netflix last year amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Reference: Evening Standard: Lily Waddell