Christopher Bowman, 40, former U.S. figure skating champion dubbed “Bowman the Showman” died Thursday of a possible drug overdose.
Bowman’s body was found at a motel in Los Angeles. His mother says he passed away in his sleep. An autopsy is planned for this weekend.
Bowman was in his prime in the late 80s- early 90s. He won the U.S. men’s figure skating titles in 1989 and 1992, and was runner-up in 1987 and 1991. He also won a silver medal at the 1989 world championships, and a bronze the next year. He skated in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, finishing seventh in 1988 and fourth in 1992.
Bowman has battled drug and alcohol problems for decades. He’s been in treatment at least twice, once before the 1988 Olympics and then again after the Albertville Games in 1992.
He’s also had a few run-ins with the police. In Nov. 04 he was involved in a situation where he was drunk and had a gun. He pleaded no contest. In 1993, while working for the Ice Capades, he was badly assaulted at a slimy hotel in a bad neighborhood in Pittsburgh.
Bowman was also an actor and had a part on “Little House on the Prairie” for one season.
Bowman leaves a daughter with his ex-wife, Annette Bowman.
