Entertainer Nate Estimada of Chippendales and Men of the Strip dies at 25

From: Las Vegas Sun

 Nate Estimada, known as “The Midnight Cowboy” on E! Entertainment’s reality TV series “Men of the Strip,” has died. Estimada was 25, and the cause of his death Wednesday night in Los Angeles County is unknown.

The Las Vegas resident was a member of the new adult-male revue Men of the Strip launched by 98 Degrees founder and lead singer Jeff Timmons, who also resides in Las Vegas. Estimada previously was a performer in Chippendales at the Rio.

Notes of condolences, sadness and shock were left on two Facebook pages for Estimada today, and his personal Facebook page has been closed.

 Timmons said via Twitter: “I am heartbroken at the passing of my brother Nate Estimada. Nate was a gift to all of us and will be missed not only personally as a friend but also as a member of Men of the Strip.

“My love, prayers and thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones. He will be missed dearly, and we will keep him in our hearts forever.”

Preston Stoll, a State Farm agent at Perry Olson here in Las Vegas who met Estimada after high school six to seven years ago and considered him his best friend, said this morning, “I wish he knew how many people loved him and cared about him. … His family is my family. They’re still pretty shook up, as well. All we can do is continue his memory.”

At the Men of the Strip showcase at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay on March 29, Estimada was in an elevator with me. “Hey, I know you! We’re friends on Facebook,” Estimada said, smiling and shaking my hand. (We had become FB friends within the week or so.)

A few weekends ago, I was officially introduced to Estimada at Vegas Magazine’s 11th anniversary party at Drai’s Beach Club & Nightclub atop the Cromwell, and a photograph of the two of us was snapped. Estimada was friendly and charming, and female guests at the party were drawn to him.

Estimada’s handsome good looks, incredibly ripped physique and killer smile are obvious, but one friend and former colleague of his will remember “his little brother” in another way.

“You would never have found a bigger heart in someone.”