"It really was a rough time in my life. He has not returned Oxygen.coms request for comment. There is a lot to take in while watching Netflix's Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness. And, at the age of 16, he made his television debut as a dancer on Dick Clarks American Bandstand. During an interview with David Spade, Kirkham remarked, "There was footage in there of Exotic actually killing animals for fun. Greater Wynnewood Zoo property. The Oklahoma City native was thrust into the spotlight as a dancer on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" by age 16, according to a, He got a degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981, according to Kirkhams. "Joe was terrified of big cats," Kirkham said. "I knew that I could make him famous," Kirkham said while remembering a business opportunity that seemed like a good idea at the time. He has one sibling and is very close to his brother. ( m. 2018) . The recorded livestream can still be viewed online, if you're willing to pay from $3.99 to $4.99 in the US, and varying by country. But theres a whole lot more to Kirkham than a footnote in Joe Exotics tumultuous story. Therefore, ick Kirkham's net worth, as of 2020, has been estimated to be close to $3 million. He was born on May 16th, 1958, in the United States. Rick Kirkham has had a lifelong desire to work as a director and in the entertainment industry. Zoo and lived there until his departure in 2015. Rick Kirkham. Before his time as a producer for Joe Exotic's online TV show, Rick Kirkham worked for"Inside Edition.". He is also famous for his documentary TV Junkie which is based on his drug addiction. Kirkham was working on his own reality TV show about Exotic that never came to fruition after a suspicious blaze destroyed the footage a fire Kirkham believes was set by Exotic. Maldonado-Passage was, however, convicted in federal court of two counts of murder for hirethough the hitagainst Carole Baskindid not go throughalong with a number of charges around the animals he kept, includingnine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. By 1996, his addiction caused his professional and personal life to crash. Discovery ID channel released a show called The Truth Behind Joe Exotic: The Rick Kirkham Story. Rick made this series on the life of Joe Exotic. His LinkedIn and Facebook profiles still list him working at RealReels as a film and tv producer, as well. Rick currently works as a freelance reporter and has Bodo Nu listed as one of his employers. He refers to her as his bonus daughter and seems to share a bond of affection. "(Netflix) sent out iPads to everyone," Kirkham said on the livestream, noting that he has his own TV studio in his Norway home and was able to film himself. He told Joel McHale, the host of Tiger King and I, that the local paper put his picture on the front page and that even a walk results in Tiger King comments. Eventually, Kirkham achieved sobriety and released the 2006 documentary TV Junkie, a compilation of self-filmed footage during his drug use. Rick Kirkham now lives in Norway, where he married and began a new life with his new wife. Kirkham was born in Oklahoma in 1958. Naturally, with the public attention he has gained, we can expect more interviews, talk shows, or even podcasts, which are interested in knowing Ricks opinion on Joe Exotic. The incident also burnt down Exotic and Kirkhams professional relationship. Katie Dupere is an editor and writer in New York City specializing in identity, internet culture, social good, lifestyle and beauty topics. We always welcome your valuable feedback to improve Wiki Celebs Site. The karma comes around in that I didn't get to make my show. He is well-known for his signature look of wearing a dark cowboy hat. According to hisLinkedInprofile, Kirkham obtained a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981. ," released by HBO. Kirkham obtained a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981. The 61-year-old man started his career as a journalist. After getting sober, Kirkham started working as a producer for RealReels. He grew up with his siblings in his hometown. In 2014, Kirkham received numerous requests to become the producer for a reality show featuring Joe Exotic, the operator of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park. Rick Kirkham was born on 16 May 1958 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Zoo; "She told Joe that she could no longer care for the animal and asked him if he'd take it and give it a good home. Kirkham then landed a job on Inside Edition after finishing college, where he had the opportunity to interview Chuck Norris, James Brown, and even former President George Bush. Accompanying police on drug busts, Kirkham got to carry a gun and wear a bulletproof vest. The couple was living in Plano, but eventually, Rick split with his wife. The zoos park manager, John Reinke, claimed surveillance footage from before the fire appears to show a man who resembles Kirkham approaching the scene, and accused Kirkham of removing his footage from the studio before the place went up in a blaze. As for the alleged animal abuse, Kirkham said Joe Exotic would not only kill his older tigers and then "feed them right to the other tigers," but Kirkham said he oncewatchedhim kill a horsea woman had brought him because he claimed he would take care of it and let it use his big pasture. Always interested in television, he then went to school for broadcast journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma, according to Kirkhams LinkedIn profile. . Kirkham is Facebook friends with Baskin. I watched the entire two-plus hours and thought Kirkham came across as pretty much the same person viewers saw in the Netflix series -- a down-on-his-luck journalist who spotted a good story and was eager to make it into a reality show. Rick holds an American nationality and is of English ethnicity. This is Kirkhams second marriage, which he shared with his wife, Norwegian photographer Kristin Rosy. However, his career took a turn for the worse after he became involved with drugs. then you already know that the Tiger King portion of the shows title came from a reality show dream that, quite literally, went up in flames. Since appearing on Tiger King, Rick has enjoyed public attention as well. Roll your camera. TIGER King's Rick Kirkham has said he hates the hit documentary's star Joe Exotic so much that he wanted him to be devoured by his own big cats. We found the men who really sang songs like "I Saw a Tiger" and "Here Kitty Kitty.". And I felt guilty. He lost his family and "Inside Edition," along with all his other gigs, fired him. Karma came around for him in that he's now sitting in jail as the most famous man on the planet.". But Kirkham had more to say about Joe Exotic in a two-hour livestream pay chat that aired April 11. He started writing at a very early age. He also did a series of stunts during his tenure including being shot out of a cannon, set on fire, and wrestling a nine-foot alligator. He also claimed that Travis Maldonado wasn't gay. The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." CNET's interview with Joel McHale where he discusses Community and Tiger King, 9 things you didn't know about Netflix's insane hit show, 7 ways to get more of Netflix's wildly popular documentary, President Trump will 'take a look' at pardoning Tiger King Joe Exotic, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. According to anABC News profile, Kirkham received his first camera when he was 14-years-old. Kirkham briefly discussed that much-awaited new Netflix episode that dropped on Sunday, which is called The Tiger King and I, and which is hosted by actor and comedian Joel McHale. Not only is Rick working, but he has seen an uptake in his professional engagements since Tiger King released. He then went on speak publicly about his drug use to young adults, and advocate for sobriety. For Advertisement, PR, Sponsorships, or any Query, you can contact us through this Email:-[emailprotected], Some Lesser Known Facts About Rick Kirkham, Jesy Nelson Wiki, Age, Height, Weight, Boyfriend, Biography & Family, Farhana Bodi Age, Wiki, Husband, Net worth, Biography, Family, Height, Ethnicity & More, Seema Sisodia Wiki, Biography, Children, Family, Age, Net Worth & Facts About Manish Sisodias Wife, Who is Irina Dreyt? As Kirkham explains in Tiger King, much of what he describes was initially all caught on his own cameras. While Baskin admitted to conversing with Kirkham, she denied making him any offer. Right from the first episode you are . Rick Kirkham will turn 62 years old on 16 May 2020. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He claims that footage existed ofJoe murderinganimals for fun, including tigers that he didn't want anymore. Netflix. Delivered on weekdays. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His days as a crime reporter are where Kirkham earned his place in the spotlight. He was only 14 years old when he began filming his daily life in minute detail for 3000 hours. While he has already appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2007, long before Tiger King, Kirkham has taken the opportunity to improve his public profile after Netflixs docuseries went viral. Kirkham claimed to have "never experienced anything like Joe Exotic" and denied involvement in the 2015 G.W. What happened to Tiger King interviewee Rick Kirkham, thetelevision producer whose footage was lost atGreater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park? Camera and Electrical Department: The Last Mark. reported last year. In that same interview, Kirkham shared that Maldonado-Passage was a very evil guy to the animals and the people that worked for him. But he never wanted all of it released.". "Joe by going to jail may actually have helped the wild animals after all," he said. Tami, his wife at that time, could not stand Ricks addiction to the news and drugs. He hasn't been able to escape the popularity of the show there. After marrying his first wife and right before the birth of his first child, Kirkham checked into rehab at the encouragement of Inside Edition producers. Six months after Kirkhams house was set on fire, Joe Exotics studio was set on fire. Rick also hosted a two-hour live pay chat where fans could ask him about his experiences with Joe, while Rick showed some unseen footage. "We shot thousands of hours of things, and everything from him killing animals to abusing people, abusing animalshe knew it was all on tape. Before seeking out big cat lover Maldonado-Passage, Kirkham had a wildly successful career as a reality television star himself. As a well-known producer, Kirkham linked up with Maldonado-Passage in the hopes of making a reality show about the "Tiger King.". His father was also a writer and his mother was a housewife. The net worth of Rick Kirkham is estimated to be $3 million to $4 million. He claimed he still has nightmares about the experience. he worked for the news magazine Inside Edition for many years. John Finlay. Having started at an early age, Rick was a valued part ofInside Editionfor a long time. In March 2020, Netflix debuted what might be its most shocking (and bingeworthy) true crime series to date. You may also like: Jimmy McNichol, Stacey Dash, Your email address will not be published. Rick Kirkham is a former television reporter. Kirkham can also be seen in Investigation Discoverys Nine at 9, a true-crime series where he spills the beans about Joe Exotic. Still, justthe man's bravado alone adds an extra layer of intrigue,certainly when the docuseries reveals thatKirkham's studio burned to the ground less than a week after a confrontation with Joe. A filmmaker, Kirkham recorded much ofhis addiction on camera. "It was kind of a joke with one of my producers that I would go out in a blaze of glory and the world would see it.". 2023 E! Kirkham sought to capitalize on the unusual nature that Joe Exotic exuded by filming his every move and turning it into a reality television show. The names of his children are not available. In the course of my year, he walked up to a tiger he didn't like and just shot it in the head. Read:CNET's interview with Joel McHale where he discusses Community and Tiger King. He marriedKristin E Rosy Kirkham in 2018, and reportedly works as areporter forRealReels. The Joe Exotic years will "take up another half of my book," he said. Upon hearing about the fire, Kirkham dropped to his knees and cried, and left the zoo not long afterwards. But in March 2015, a suspected arson fire destroyed the zoo studio, killing the zoos alligatorsand destroying all of Kirkhams footage. Bush while high, he recounted to Oprah Winfrey, The Dallas Observer reported in 2007. Who Is 'Tiger King' Producer Rick Kirkham? In a mysterious coincidence, Kirkham's own house burned down just six months later, killing his dog, New York Magazine reported last year. Discovery ID published The Truth Behind Joe Exotic: The Rick Kirkham Story. Despite the attention hes been receiving, Kirkham apparently wouldnt do it all again. We may earn a commission through links on our site. But he soon began to use crack cocaine. There have been accusations that Kirkham himself set fire to the studio, to which he responded, That's my retirement money that just burned, OK?" Rick got married to his wife named Kristin Rosy. He never revealed the names of his parents and siblings to the media. Zoo and had a nervous breakdown, he claims in the docuseries. But he is not available on Twitter and Instagram. Netflix's Tiger King is full of baffling story . Nobody has ever been arrested in connection with the fire, although local police told the docuseries it was definitely arson. 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