This 'Golden Girls' Star Was Found Dead Partially Eaten By 'Turkey Vultures'

Details surrounding the tragic death of 'Golden Girls' star Charles Levin has just been released by Oregon state investigators and the specifics surrounding his death are very, very sad.

According to a report released by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, the badly decomposed body of actor Charles Levin was found at the bottom of a 30ft steep hill and it was revealed "there were signs of animal scavenging likely in the form of turkey vultures as the presence of bird feces on and around the body."

According to the investigator's report, obtained by DailyMail, Levin had been reported missing after making contact with a friend saying he was lost close to Cave Junction, Oregon.

Local reports say Charles’ son reported him missing on July 8, near the actor's home in Oregon. Police searched for the actor's orange Fiat, which he had been driving, and they were told his dog Boo Boo Bear was also with him.

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Seinfeld

A resident of a nearby town of Selma, Oregon found the vehicle after investigators were led to the area due to the GPS from Charles’ cell phone. Tragically, once the Fiat was searched Boo Boo Bear was found dead inside.

The person, who asked not to be identified said, "His car was pretty banged up and was off a logging trail. I went up on foot, hiking. I wouldn't have driven up there by myself, no way. I think he might have made a few bad decisions."

The actor's body was found July 13, after he seemingly fell down a steep ravine while attempting to get help. In the report, One report, according to the outlet, it was noted the actor's body was "naked, missing internal organs and was wedged between trees."

Flickr

The turkey vulture, or buzzard, is the most widespread of the New World Vultures and can be found from southern Canada to the southernmost part of South America. The birds thrive in many different natural elements, including forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.

Turkey vultures are considered scavengers and mostly feed on the decaying flesh of dead animals. They hunt using their highly-developed sense of sight and smell and fly low enough to detect gasses emitted by dead animals as they begin the process of decay.

Grants Pass Public Safety

Emergency responders arriving on the scene were forced to slide down the hill using a rope and pulley system to retrieve his body. Investigators believe he was attempting to make his way back home when he got lost and ended up near the mountain pass.

Another possible theory included the fact that the actor was currently in the middle of moving homes in the area. His car was badly damaged, according to the documents, with the one of the side mirrors 'sheared off' and it was stuck in a dirt pile closed in by a group of trees.

The coroner's office in Grant's Pass has ruled the death 'accidental' and Levin's identity was confirmed by his dental records.

Golden Girls

Charles Levin had quite a Hollywood career, not only playing the famous role on 'Golden Girls' but also starring in 'Seinfeld.' In a hugely popular episode of the show, called The Bris, Levin played a playing a mohel who performed the ceremony. He also starred for several years in the popular police drama, 'Hill Street Blues.'

Levin was cast in the original version of the 'Golden Girls' television show where the cast was made up of Rose, Dorothy, Blanche, and Coco. Coco was their flamboyant chef and was supposed to be a regular on the show.

Eventually, according to reports, the writers believed that Coco's character would distract from the friendship of the girls, so the actor was replaced with Dorothy's mother Sophia.

Twitter

After the initial news of Levin's passing was reported earlier this year, fans collectively mourned for the star and expressed sadness over the tragic circumstances.

"For the Seinfeld fans amongst you, a piece of sad news; Charles Levin - better known as The Mohel - passed away this week. Although he has just four minutes screentime in one episode (‘The Bris’) he was well, awesome."

"Just found out Charles Levin died. Looks like he took a shortcut home through Oregon and got stranded. Very sad RIP."

Colleagues and co-stars of Levin, whom the actor had worked with over the years, also paid their respects to the late star.

Musician Sean Kennedy wrote:

"Sad to hear of Charles Levin's passing. I worked with him in 1996 on a musical. He would hang with us musicians in the break room, SO funny, and no ego.
He was in so many of my favorite movies and tv shows: Seinfeld, etc... & even Spinal Tap!"

NBC

Levin is best known for his "Seinfeld" cameo in the classic episode, "The Bris." The episode first aired October 14, 1993, during Season 5 and is the 69th episode of the series. Levin plays a very nervous and high-strung mohel who is hired to perform a circumcision on Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer's friend's baby ... but an unfortunate turn of events leads Levin to slice off the tip of Jerry's finger. The episode also includes Kramer's classic encounter with the infamous "Pig Man."