Tiger King star Erik Cowie’s sad cause of death revealed

One of the star’s of the wildly popular Netflix docuseries Tiger King was found dead last month. Now, his tragic cause of death has been revealed.

Tiger King star Erik Cowie’s cause of death has been revealed after he was found lying face down in bed at his friend’s Brooklyn apartment on September 3.

The zookeeper, who worked for Netflix star Joe Exotic at his zoo, died from acute and chronic alcohol use.

The medical examiner determined that Cowie’s cause of death was “acute and chronic alcohol use” in a manner that was “natural.”

A large bottle of vodka was found at the scene where Cowie died.

Erik Cowie was 53 when he was found dead early last month. Picture: Netflix

Cowie struggled from alcohol abuse in the past and denied he was a meth addict. According to TMZ, he previously said he was “at the end of (his) rope” with his alcoholism

He was also busted for a DUI in Oklahoma earlier this year after being involved in a car accident.

Cowie pleaded guilty but didn’t show up to his court hearing in May for his sentencing. An arrest warrant was issued at the time.

Cowie had crooked teeth that many fans believed were due to meth use.

The zookeeper had battled alcoholism in the past before his death. Picture: Netflix

He denied that rumour and once said his bad teeth were due to getting older. He actually received dental implants in July 2020 from Tiger King star Jeff Lowe.

Tiger King captivated viewers in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The docuseries featured a zoo operated by Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage.

Exotic was found guilty in a murder-for-hire plot to kill his rival, Carole Baskin, and is serving a 22-year sentence.

Cowie even testified against Exotic who also allegedly abused and killed some of his animals.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and is reproduced here with permission