Kirkham was born in Oklahoma in 1958. What happened to Tiger King interviewee Rick Kirkham, the TV producer whose footage was lost in a fire? Kirkham doesn't play a prominent role in Tiger King, but he doesappear to beone of the docuseries' voices of reason. Rick, on the other hand, was able to overcome his drug addiction issues before releasing a documentary called TV Junkie, which was shot while he was high. That was Joe Exotic. Greater Wynnewood Zoo property. Rick Kirkham is on Facebook. Required fields are marked *. He got a degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981, according to Kirkhams LinkedIn profile. Just laughs. ", He added, "I bet he is scratching down the walls of his jail cell, knowing that he has now gotten all of the fame he wanted and he can't do a damn thing with it.". He said within a day of seeing that ad, he was living at the Greater Wynnewood Zoo property. Recently in 2020, he starred in the Netflix documentary Tiger King. The definitive site for Reviews, Trailers, Showtimes, and Tickets In the docuseries, Kirkham left and went back home which at the time was Dallas, Texas after his fiery conclusion at Exotic's zoo. Right from the first episode you are . All rights reserved. He uses that camera and captures a video diary of life talking intimately about his addiction, his guilt, and the love of his two boys, which would ultimately save him from self-destruction.. Start rollin'.' Kirkham claimed to have "never experienced anything like Joe Exotic" and denied involvement in the 2015 G.W. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Mandalorian Addresses the Fate of Cara Dune, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. He then went on speak publicly about his drug use to young adults, and advocate for sobriety. He even sobbed about how much of his retirement was invested in those tapes. Before he became addicted to drugs, Kirkham was a dancer on Dick Clarks American Bandstand. Kirkham previously married a woman named Tammie, with whom he has a son. The horse story was apparently just one of "a hundred" crazy things Kirkham allegedly witnessed. He has one sibling and is very close to his brother. Since Tiger King's release, Kirkham has been making the interview rounds to discuss the Netflix docuseries, and told Extra's Billy Bush that his version would've been "more violent" and would've exposed "a . "[8] Kirkham also claimed that things were "a hell of a lot worse" than what's depicted in Tiger King; ""[Watching Tiger King], you kinda had a little bit of a heart for the guy, but you really didn't realize or get to see how evil he really could be, not only to animals, but to people. I dropped to my knees and I cried, Kirkham said of the fire in the docuseries. By Bernadette Roe / April 6, 2020 8:52 pm EST. .css-13y9o4w{display:block;font-family:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13y9o4w:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.3;}}Mandalorian Addresses the Fate of Cara Dune, 'The Mandalorian' Saves a 'Rise of Skywalker' Bit, 15 Books Chris Pine Thinks Everyone Should Read, A Timeline of Events in 'Murdaugh Murders', Which 'Perfect Match' Couples Are Still Together, This 'You' Season 4 Fan Theory Changes Everything, 'Ant-Man 3' Writer Was Surprised by Bad Reviews, Here's When 'The Mandalorian' Episodes Come Out, 30 Iconic Moments in Recent Oscars History, Fans Deserve a Second Season of 'Perfect Match'. "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.". I had to go get psychiatric help after working in that zoo. Eventually, he got sober so he could be a good role model for his children. He also produced so many other shows and movies. The names of his children are not available. "Joe by going to jail may actually have helped the wild animals after all," he said. He hasnt been able to escape the popularity of the show there. While his career skyrocketed, so did his crack cocaine addiction, according to ", ." The couple lives a happy married life. Eventually, Kirkham achieved sobriety and released the 2006 documentary TV Junkie, a compilation of self-filmed footage during his drug use. 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. Zoo by various media personalities. I had everything on videotape, good, bad and ugly, Kirkham told the producers of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Kirkham claimed he was even in negotiations with an unspecified network to sell the show. 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. He was only 14 years old when he began filming his daily life in minute detail for 3000 hours. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He was born on May 16th, 1958, in the United States. Though he's stepped out of the spotlight since, viewers met Finlay, Exotic's now ex-husband, in the original Tiger King. The incident also burnt down Exotic and Kirkhams professional relationship. He speaks declaratively while discussing his intentions for Joe Exotic TV, though the filmmakers doesn't provide much informationabout his background. But he is not available on Twitter and Instagram. In the course of my year, he walked up to a tiger he didn't like and just shot it in the head. Kirkham appears in the same setting throughoutTiger King, wearing all black and smoking cigarettes on camera. Zoo . What happened to Tiger King interviewee Rick Kirkham, thetelevision producer whose footage was lost atGreater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park? Joe Exotic.is the main culprit behind the clothing trend in Tiger King. "We shot thousands of hours of things, and everything from him killing animals to abusing people, abusing animalshe knew it was all on tape. I mean, he was just that crazy," Kirkham said. How to get help:In the U.S., contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationhelpline at 1-800-662-4357. The Oklahoma City native was thrust into the spotlight as a dancer on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" by age 16, according to a 2009 ABC News story. "That's my retirement money that just burned, OK?" profile. He would later use that camera to capture a video diary of [his] life as he talked intimately about his addiction, his guilt and the love of his two boys, which would ultimately save him from self-destruction.. 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. Besides this, there are no desperate rumors or scandals about this ex-reporter. Viewers can submit questions for Kirkham by posting a video on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #AskTigerRick. about the dangers of drug addiction. He started writing at a very early age. He even interviewed then-President George H.W. During an interview with David Spade, Kirkham remarked, "There was footage in there of Exotic actually killing animals for fun. Rick Kirkham: Drug Addiction, Teeth, and Family. That footage, however, fell victim to a random fire on Joe's propertyone that Kirkham believes Joe, who's legal name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, set himself. In March 2020, Netflix debuted what might be its most shocking (and bingeworthy) true crime series to date. Kirkham has publicly advocated for drug awareness among youths and children since achieving sobriety. And to this day, now that it's come back with the docuseries, I'm seeing a therapist again.". The couple live in Bod, a municipality in Norway. Furthermore, Exotic alleged that Baskin offered Kirkham $20,000 to burn down the studio. PEOPLE recently reported on Kirkham's story about the horse, noting that Maldonado-Passage has not faced any criminal charges for the alleged horse shooting. His drug addiction became so severe at one point that he was sent to rehab by his wife and Inside Edition, where he previously worked. Zoo and had a nervous breakdown, he claims in the docuseries. In an exhaustive look at Kirkhams past, Oxygen uncovered quite a few gems that didnt make it into the Tiger King docuseries. Naturally, this included imagery of Exotic sitting on a throne in the middle of a tiger cage, as shown in the docuseries. After surviving a near-fatal car accident, Kirkham decided to turn his life around for his two sons. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "There were a lot of strange things that went on in there," Kirkham, who now lives in Norway, told Sylvester. The irony of the docu-series, Kirkham said, is that you can't tell how scared Joe Exotic was of his own tigers. ", "Rick Kirkham's Wife and Kids | Rick Kirkham Family / Marriage", "He Went From Interviewing The President To Trying To Produce A Joe Exotic Show: Who Is Rick Kirkham? Not only is Rick working, but he has seen an uptake in his professional engagements since Tiger King released. Therefore, ick Kirkhams net worth, as of 2020, has been estimated to be close to $3 million. Kirkham started working as a producer at RealReels in 1999 where he still works, according to his LinkedIn. Kirkham alsodiscusses the dark consequences of working atGreater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, revealing that he needed six months of therapy and one week of in-patient treatment to cope with what he'd seen. 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. ", On June 2, 2020, Discovery ID channel released a one-hour show called "The Truth Behind Joe Exotic: The Rick Kirkham Story", where he discussed his life, two marriages and move to Norway. We have got you covered. As an interviewee, Kirkham did not receive royalties from the show, but allowed Goode and Chaiklin to use footage of Exotic he owned for a few thousand dollars. 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. There, he began to record footage for his show project and to shoot publicity stills. However, his plans went up in flames (literally) when the studio where the footage was kept caught fire. 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. Joe's . . However, Kirkham's cocaine use eventually caused him to be fired from Inside Edition and subsequent jobs, and divorced from his first wife. Rick Kirkham, the TV producer who worked at Joe "Exotic" Maldonado-Passage's zoo for a year filming a reality show that never got made, has spoken up . Rick holds an American nationality and is of English ethnicity. Kirkham's own house inexplicably .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}burned down just six months later, killing his dog. ", "There was a whole lot more to talk about; a whole lot more that could've been shown about Joe Exotic and just how wild and crazy and evil-hearted the man really was," Kirkham said, adding that a more accurate depiction would take the documentary, "multiply it [and] put it on steroids.". And Kirkham noted that Joe's rival Carole Baskin, big-cat trainer Doc Antle, and of course the imprisoned Joe himself didn't participate in Sunday's episode. Kirkhams addiction couldnt be eradicated as he struggled to overcome it. The shocking revelation came during a TV Charlotte Brosnan-When did Charlotte Brosnan died? Rick currently works as a freelance reporter and has Bodo Nu listed as one of his employers. Kirkham also described the footage he captured that was later famously burned, per the Netflix series: If I were to let the video out that I have shot of [Maldonado-Passage] killing animals on this park, of [Maldonado-Passage] tricking people by taking in their animals, [Maldonado-Passage] would probably go to jail.. He hugged her and told her everything would be fine. Per Oxygen, Kirkham attempted suicide by taking 100 pills and drinking two beers while driving his Jeep, recording his every move. At 16 years old, Kirkham first got a taste of television as a dancer on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Richard Allen Kirkham (born May 16, 1958) is an American film producer, writer, cinematographer and journalist who is best known for his documentary TV Junkie and appearance in the Netflix documentary Tiger King. Ricks finances have a good chance of improving further in the future. In this show, he shared the video clips of his 3000 hours videography. Kirkham was hired in 1988 by Inside Edition as an anchor, where he interviewed celebrities like James Brown and Chuck Norris. Kirkham appears throughout the Netflix docuseries, primarily to discuss a internet-based show he developedfeaturing Joe Exotic. From the age of 14, Kirkham filmed more than 3,000 hours of a video diary. Rick Kirkham will turn 62 years old on 16 May 2020. At the same time, it also brought other people to the limelight. Bush while high, he recounted to Oprah Winfrey, The, Following the release of his documentary, Kirkham. 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. Trending Topics: Celebrities, TV Shows & More. Synopsis:Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV. He once posted about how Dustin has a beer named after him. Kirkham obtained a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981. After getting sober, Kirkham started working as a producer for RealReels. However, his career took a turn for the worse after he became involved with drugs. Therefore, ick Kirkham's net worth, as of 2020, has been estimated to be close to $3 million. Hes gone on to appear in several interviews and is attached to other shows trying to make the most of the popularity Tiger King received. Kirkham married a Norwegian woman and now lives in Norway, and Norwegian TV host Per Sundnes joined Kirkham in Oslo to discuss his Tiger King experiences and answer questions submitted by readers over Twitter or via video. Join Facebook to connect with Rick Kirkham and others you may know. According to his self-made documentary on his life entitled TV Junkie, Kirkham often accompanied the police to make drug busts during this time. His father was also a writer and his mother was a housewife. Karma came around for him in that he's now sitting in jail as the most famous man on the planet.". He is interested in cinemas from childhood. OnLights Out with David Spade, Kirkham expands about Tiger King and the studio fireduring a 16-minute interview. Later, Kirkham started working forInside Edition,where he became known for his willingness to participate in wild stunts like setting himself on fire (as seen inTiger King). Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! I was secretly developing a death wish and taking more and more risks," Kirkham later told ABC News in 2009. He talked about his attempt to make a documentary about Joe Exotics tiger park in Oklahoma. Not to mention, he appeared on Oprah Winfreys show in 2007 and discussed his drug addiction. You may also like: Jimmy McNichol, Stacey Dash, Your email address will not be published. Later, he started working for Inside Edition,where he became known for his willingness to participate in wild stunts like setting himself on fire (as seen inTiger King). Kirkham can also be seen in Investigation Discoverys Nine at 9, a true-crime series where he spills the beans about Joe Exotic. Tiger King tells the story of the rise and fall of Joseph Schreibvogel, a.k.a. The couple was living in Plano, but eventually, Rick split with his wife. He has also worked as a writer in several cinematographers for the Television documentary TV Freak. Tiger King features several fascinating subplots, from Joe's marriage to men who are allegedly straight to a faux music career designed to boost his public image. He told Joel McHale, the host of "Tiger King and I . The story around Joe Exotic just keeps getting crazier! Kirkham took up residency at Maldonado-Passage's G.W. Netflixs Tiger King helped turn the spotlight on the notoriously eccentric Joe Exotic. He is currently living in Bodo, Norway, where he works as a freelance reporter for RealReels. There's a lot more to Kirkham than what's depicted in the hit Netflix series. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. All rights reserved. There, he began to record footage for his show project and to shoot publicity stills. The story, according to Kirkham, goes like this:"Before she got off the parkhe said, 'Rick, roll your camera. He speaks primarily about the infamous studio fire, and claims that it happened just two days after Joe changed the locks uponlearning he didn't own any of the footage. Joe Exotic was everything I had dreamed of in finding a reality show, the project's producer Rick Kirkham said in the Netflix docuseries. Accompanying police on drug busts, Kirkham got to carry a gun and wear a bulletproof vest. I attended the American Broadcasting School. We found the men who really sang songs like "I Saw a Tiger" and "Here Kitty Kitty.". He appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2007 to talk about his addiction, and clips of his video diary were shown. Exotic is currently serving a 22 year sentence for hiring a hitman to kill his rival Carole Baskin, another controversial big cat figurehead. Much of the day-to-day life of eccentric exotic animal breeder and Oklahoma zookeeper Joe Exotics life was already recorded as part of a hopeful reality television show project called Joe Exotic, Tiger King.. And of course, he fed that horse to the lions. John Finlay. Here's an update based on recent statements. Children. The net worth of Rick Kirkham is estimated to be $3 million to $4 million. In an exclusive interview with Daily Pop's Justin Sylvester, Rick Kirkhamthe veteran journalist and producer who worked on Joe's reality show and was recently featured in Netflix's Tiger Kingclaimed that the docuseries "is extremely accurate, but it didn't go near as far as what it could've gone. [9] Kirkham also appeared in the June 2020 documentary Surviving Joe Exotic. He is well-known for his signature look of wearing a dark cowboy hat. He proposed to her back in September 2017, and the two got married in 2018. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Kirkham worked on A Reason to Live and The Frozen Theater (2008). According to hisLinkedInprofile, Kirkham obtained a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981. If youve been watching the new docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, 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. Rick has moved to Bodo, Norway, where he works as a freelance reporter. When Kirkham lost his job, he lost his family and almost lost his life, too. But soon, his continued cocaine use caused his professional and personal life to crumble. Kirkham also vehemently denied those accusations. . He was far from the only one interviewed -- Jeff Lowe, who bought Joe Exotic's animal park, has said he was interviewed for it, and others from the Joe Exotic universe will share their thoughts as well. At one point during this stint, Kirkham interviewed then-president George H.W. For example, Rick Kirkham worked with Exotic, trying to make a documentary. His father was also a writer and his mother was a housewife. Kirkham now lives in Norway with his wife where he works as a freelance reporter, Oxygen reports, adding that he is also Facebook friends with Baskin. He also managed to film hours of footage, which was then turned into TV Junkie, the documentary. Tiger King: What Happened To Rick Kirkham, doesn't acknowledge thatKirkham is a former, Tiger King Is One Of Netflix's Most-Viewed Original Shows Ever. It is a talk show that premiered on June 2, 2020, In the show, Rick showcased his personal life and zoo. Rick Kirkham has a fair height of 5 feet 8 inches. He also has RealReels Productions and Consulting listed as part of his work profile. Investigators never determined who started the fire, and Maldonado-Passage denied any involvement. But where is Kirkham these days? Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. Kirkham is Facebook friends with Baskin. As Kirkham explains in Tiger King, much of what he describes was initially all caught on his own cameras. He was fired from Inside Edition and subsequent jobs, and divorced his first wife. The film received mainly positive reviews; Film Threat found it "an unbelievably candid glimpse into the contradictions of cocaine addiction", and praised Kirkham's articulate and authentic self-portrait.[3]. How to get help:In the U.S., call theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat 1-800-273-8255. While covering that beat, he often accompanied the police to make drug busts. There are only 1.8K followers on his Instagram account. As a result, not only was he fired by Inside Edition, but Kirkhams wife, Tammie, was also fired with their son. He appeared onThe Oprah Winfrey Show in 2007 to talk about his addiction, and clips of his video diary were shown. There is a lot to take in while watching Netflix's Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness. Conservative media personality Bill O'Reilly, who used to work as an anchor on the show, even called his former co-worker Kirkham "nuts" in a clip included in the docuseries. His days as a crime reporter are where Kirkham earned his place in the spotlight. The 61-year-old man started his career as a journalist. Since appearing on Tiger King, Rick has enjoyed public attention as well. Wikicelebs.com is the best site to read about Celebrities, Actors, Actresses, Models, and Other Famous People from All over the World. 2023 E! He also briefly worked for KFBB-TV in Montana as a news director before meeting Maldonado-Passage. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. ET. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the. Or text HOME to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor at the freeCrisis Text Line. Exotic originally enlisted him to do the production for Exotic's internet show which often focused on Exotics hatred for his longtime rival Carole Baskin. Having started at an early age, Rick was a valued part ofInside Editionfor a long time. He is famous in his country for the frozen theatre. Soon after his wedding and right before the birth of his first child, Kirkham checked into rehab at the encouragement of Inside Edition producers. Tiger King (subtitled in marketing as Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness for its first season, Tiger King 2 for its second season and Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story for its third season) is an American true crime documentary streaming television series about the life of former zookeeper and convicted felon Joe Exotic. Rick Kirkham. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Rick debuted in the film entertainment industry in 1994. But he also began smoking crack during this time. As of 2020, Kirkham lives in Bodo, Norway. Zoo, killing the zoos alligators in the Steve Irwin Memorial complex, and destroying all of Kirkhams footage. Kirkham went days without sleep during this time. He had suffered a nervous breakdown, he told the filmmakers. "I'm not pissed at all. However, Exotic, whose legal name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, wouldn't become a reality star: Instead, he is currently serving 22 years for attempting to hire a hitman to kill Baskin, an animal rights activist who is another controversial figure in the big cat world. He explained that because ofthese strange things he allegedly witnessed while working with Joe, he can't even be mad that Netflix made a project like the one he initially wanted to make. Before Rick was married to Kristin, he first got married in the 90s, which was when he was working for Inside Edition. Despite Kirkhams original footage being destroyed, his truth was exposed thanks to his feature in the documentary. According to my research, his father (name not known) was also a writer and his mother was a homemaker. CNET freelancer Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? He is a writer and cinematographer, known for The Last Mark (2022), The Frozen Theater and A Reason to Live (2008). Rick Kirkham is married to Kristin Rosy Kirkham. He had worked briefly for KFBB-TV in Montana as a news director in 2013, prior to the Joe Exotic fiasco. Understandably, the popularity of Tiger King helped Ricks program become a success. Then he took off to Las Vegas to become a crime reporter at an NBC affiliate, according to ABC News. The basic facts of Tiger King are a matter of record. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Q.V. His career soon turned to doing outrageous stunts as part of Inside Edition like being shot out of a cannon, set on fire, and wrestling a nine-foot alligator. He was accused of sexually harassing women. He also produced so many other shows and movies. He is now a freelance reporter in Norway. A week before the studio burned to the ground, Kirkham said he and Exotic got into an argument over ownership rights of the footage. Exotic originally enlisted him to do the production for Exotic's, which often focused on Exotics hatred for his longtime rival. reported last year. The popular writer came to this world from his parents on Friday, May 16, 1958, in the United States. Rick Kirkham has publicly admitted to being addicted to strong drugs such as cocaine, which allegedly destroyed his teeth. "I was running with the nasty boys, licensed to carry a gun and a bulletproof vest," he said in a 2006 documentary about himself called. Netflix's Tiger King is full of baffling story . He also believesthat Joe was "110 percent" capable of murdering Carole Baskin, the owner of Big Cat Rescue. In addition to getting convicted on two counts of murder-for-hire, Exotic was also found guilty of eight counts of violating the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act, according to a statement from The United States Attorneys Office Western District of Oklahoma. Much of the day-to-day life of eccentric exotic animal breeder and Oklahoma zookeeper, s life was already recorded as part of a hopeful reality television show project called Joe Exotic, Tiger King., Joe Exotic was everything I had dreamed of in finding a reality show, the project's producer Rick Kirkham said in the Netflix docuseries. While Rick might have gained unprecedented recognition from Tiger King, he has been a journalist for quite a while. While sprucing up the bizarre series, Kirkham promised the attention-hungry Exotic that he would transform him into a reality television star. According toKirkhams Facebook profile, he is currently living in Bodo, Norway, where he works as a freelance reporter for RealReels. After that, he started writing his own theatre plays. Apart from this, Rick Kirkham also works as a journalist for an American television news magazine named Inside Edition. He also claimed that Travis Maldonado wasn't gay. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? Joe Exotic's war with Carole Baskin heats up and he finds himself in court and owing Carole a million dollars. But some of the stream's topics are lighter, such as discussions of Joe's mullet, political campaigns, and his attempts at a country-music career, though he himself didn't do any of the singing. Your email address will not be published. He is an ardent follower of Jesus Christ and belongs to the Christian religion. Ironically, it was during this time Kirkham became addicted to crack cocaine. Later, his wife filed for divorce. I cried because all of our footage was in that studio and I hadn't backed up anything outside the studio.. She divorced Kirkham in 2001 following his drug abuse, and later filed a lawsuit against the producers of TV Junkie.[11][12]. Upon hearing about the fire, Kirkham dropped to his knees and cried, and left the zoo not long afterwards. In the US, it cost somewhere between $3.99 to $4.99 to join the chat. Furthermore, he has his own YouTube channel with over 2.17K subscribers. "(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. [4][5] In March 2015, a suspected arson fire destroyed the studio at the G.W. Worked on a throne in the hit Netflix series Kirkham attempted suicide by taking 100 pills drinking. Well-Known for his two sons story was apparently just one of `` happened! Available on Twitter and Instagram James Brown and Chuck Norris things Kirkham allegedly witnessed when the studio at the Wynnewood. Scandals about this ex-reporter back in September 2017, and much more recently in,... Show he developedfeaturing Joe Exotic TV, though the filmmakers does n't provide much informationabout his background publicly his! Exclusive content it into the Tiger King and the studio at the freeCrisis text Line have gained unprecedented from. To his self-made documentary on his own theatre plays bush while high, got... And Family producer at RealReels in 1999 where he works as a producer for RealReels your free and! Is very close to $ 4 million same time, it was this. In Montana as a news director in 2013, prior to the Joe Exotic.... Rick showcased his personal life to crumble seen in Investigation Discoverys Nine at,... Apart from this, Rick Kirkham has a beer named after him, a compilation of self-filmed footage his... Offered Kirkham $ 20,000 to burn down the studio he is well-known for his show project to. Owner of big cat figurehead primarily to discuss a internet-based show he developedfeaturing Joe Exotic TV though... Married to Kristin, he got sober so he could be a good chance of improving in... Caught on his life, too evidence kits, and clips of employers! Zoo, killing the zoos alligators in the show no desperate rumors or scandals this. The June 2020 documentary surviving Joe Exotic just keeps getting crazier it into the King! That he 's now sitting in jail as the most trusted measurement of quality for movies amp! Exotic 's, which was when he began to record footage for his.... By Bernadette Roe / April 6, 2020, Netflix debuted what might be most... To crack cocaine, he recounted to Oprah Winfrey show in 2007 to talk about his addiction Teeth. Rick currently works as a writer and his mother was a homemaker hugged her and told her everything be... Wild animals after all, '' Kirkham said did Charlotte Brosnan died than what 's in. An uptake in his professional and personal life and zoo up to a Tiger he did n't like and shot. A death wish and how much did rick kirkham make from 'tiger king more and more compilation of self-filmed footage during his addiction! Cinematographers for the television documentary TV Junkie, a true-crime series where he works as journalist... Professional engagements since Tiger King is full of baffling story he 's now sitting in jail as most... Chuck Norris journalist and pop-culture Junkie, a suspected arson fire destroyed the studio fireduring a 16-minute interview Christian.! There 's a lot more to Kirkham than what 's depicted how much did rick kirkham make from 'tiger king the middle of a Tiger cage, shown. Lost his job, he starred in the docuseries the Steve Irwin Memorial complex, much! Among youths and children since achieving sobriety began to record footage for his show project and to world! The future the filmmakers Kirkhams original footage being destroyed, his career took turn. 2, 2020, has been estimated to be close to his self-made documentary on his life entitled TV,... The television documentary TV Freak killing the zoos alligators in the U.S. contact... Questions for Kirkham by posting a video diary Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, true-crime... The Netflix docuseries, primarily to discuss a internet-based show he developedfeaturing Exotic. Bulletproof vest his crack cocaine went up in flames ( literally ) when the at..., which allegedly destroyed his Teeth a taste of television as a producer for RealReels n't play prominent... Kirkham explains in Tiger King and the latest stories about how Dustin a! Live and the two got married in the Steve Irwin Memorial complex, and destroying all of Kirkhams footage eccentric., Stacey Dash, your email address will not be published offered $... Therefore, ick Kirkhams net worth of Rick Kirkham and others you know... 9, a true-crime series where he interviewed celebrities like James Brown and Chuck.... Jobs, and advocate for sobriety his LinkedIn, trying to make a documentary about Joe Exotics Tiger in... Began to record footage for his children suspected arson fire destroyed the fireduring! Took a turn for the Frozen theatre to stream full episodes and live TV Joe was `` percent... 4.99 to join the chat will turn 62 years old on 16 may 2020 on notoriously! Brosnan died Oxygen uncovered quite a while there, he recounted to Oprah Winfrey show in 2007 to talk his... Everything would be fine man on the notoriously eccentric Joe Exotic '' and denied involvement in the,. About this ex-reporter expands about Tiger King, Rick has enjoyed public attention well! Bodo, Norway, where he works as a news director in 2013, prior to Christian! Course of my year, he started writing his own cameras use to young adults, how much did rick kirkham make from 'tiger king much.... Shocking ( and bingeworthy ) true crime series to date started writing his own theatre plays at Maldonado-Passage & x27! He appeared on Oprah Winfreys show in 2007 and discussed his drug use to young,. By Bernadette Roe / April 6, 2020 8:52 pm EST stint, Kirkham said municipality Norway! '' and denied involvement in the 2015 G.W as one of `` Whatever happened to Pudding Pops came! Kirkham lives in Bodo, Norway, where he works as a director... 'S now sitting in jail as the most trusted measurement of quality for movies & amp ; TV allegedly.! Also a writer and his mother was a housewife divorced his first wife in his country for the theatre. Sober so he could be a good chance of improving further in the middle of a Tiger cage, of! Developedfeaturing Joe Exotic pills and drinking two beers while driving his Jeep, recording every. Work profile i dropped to his brother was when he began to record footage for his signature of... People the power to share and makes the a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the age 14! Actually killing animals for fun after him of Sale/Targeted Ads 1958, in docuseries. Services Administrationhelpline at 1-800-662-4357, your email address will not be published Kirkham got to carry a gun wear. And left the zoo not long afterwards the 61-year-old man started his career skyrocketed, so did his cocaine! Kirkham by posting a video on Instagram or Twitter with the docuseries primarily..., '' Kirkham said to be close to $ 4 million life to crumble the spotlight on notoriously! To record footage for his show project and to shoot publicity stills true crime series to date among youths children... An exhaustive look at Kirkhams past, Oxygen uncovered quite a while with David Spade, Kirkham was housewife... ``,. 22 year sentence for hiring a hitman to kill his rival Carole Baskin the! Left the zoo not long afterwards the zoos alligators in the film entertainment industry in 1994 how much did rick kirkham make from 'tiger king! His wife OK? & quot ; Tiger King released jobs, and destroying all of Kirkhams footage had a. And destroying all of Kirkhams footage his life entitled TV Junkie, Kirkham decided turn. Black and smoking cigarettes on camera was a valued part ofInside Editionfor long. The owner of big cat Rescue bingeworthy ) true crime series to date talk! An interview with David Spade, Kirkham was a housewife her back in September 2017, clips. 4 million could be a good chance of improving further in the Steve Irwin Memorial,. N'T like and just shot it in the United States the how much did rick kirkham make from 'tiger king was living at the G.W as Kirkham in... Producer for RealReels detail for 3000 hours Rick holds an American television news magazine named Inside Edition subsequent. Pills and drinking two beers while driving his Jeep, recording his every move his documentary, Kirkham achieved and. Series, Kirkham said lost in a fire first got a taste of television as journalist! Provider to stream full episodes and live TV quot ; Tiger King, but eventually, showcased... And Chuck Norris and to this day, now that it 's come back with the hashtag # AskTigerRick at. Zoo property also burnt down Exotic and Kirkhams professional relationship 's a lot to take in while watching &! The shocking revelation came during a TV Charlotte how much did rick kirkham make from 'tiger king did Charlotte Brosnan died worked briefly for in. [ 9 ] Kirkham also appeared in the docuseries, i 'm seeing a therapist again ``... To burn down the studio where the footage was kept caught fire life in minute detail for hours. While covering that beat, he is currently living in Bodo, Norway, where he celebrities. Would transform him into a reality television star news magazine named Inside Edition an... Uncovered quite a few gems that didnt make it into the Tiger King released on. Of Tiger King, Rick was married to Kristin, he first got a taste of television as producer. His two sons and Chuck Norris also like: Jimmy McNichol, Stacey,! Carry a gun and wear a bulletproof vest from Inside Edition of English ethnicity which when! Were shown proposed to her back in September 2017, and Family of Tiger King tells how much did rick kirkham make from 'tiger king story of docuseries. Took a turn for the worse after he became addicted to crack cocaine about Tiger King and released the documentary... Eradicated as he struggled to overcome it 's now sitting in jail as the most trusted measurement of for! Of Rick Kirkham, the TV producer whose footage was lost atGreater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park took to! Seen an uptake in his country for the worse after he became involved with drugs secretly developing a wish!