Celebrity chef and Food Network star Anne Burrell has died.
In a press release shared with multiple media outlets, Burrell’s reps confirmed the 55-year-old’s June 17 death at her home in Brooklyn, New York. While an official cause of death is still pending an autopsy, People reports that a 911 call suggests that Burrell may have suffered cardiac arrest.
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“I wanted to have that mood to the show, where it was all about ease.”
In a statement, Burrell’s family described her as “a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend.”
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“Her smile lit up every room she entered. Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,” the statement read, according to USA Today. “Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”
“Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent — teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring,” a Food Network spokesperson said in a separate statement. “Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.”
According to People, while New York City police did not name Burrell specifically, they did confirm that a 55-year-old woman was found unconscious and unresponsive at Burrell’s Brooklyn address around 7:50am on Tuesday and pronounced dead at the scene.
Two sources told the outlet that Burrell had spent the previous evening performing improv at the Second City New York Training Center’s Brooklyn location and seemed “happy” and “in great spirits.”
In a tribute on Instagram, Second City New York said that Burrell would “be missed and remembered as a vibrant part of our Second City New York Training Center community.”
“Anne brought joy, boldness, and an unwavering ‘yes, and’ spirit,” the post said. “Her enthusiasm was contagious, her presence unforgettable.”
Burrell rose to fame on the Food Network as Mario Batali’s sous chef on the 2005 edition of Iron Chef America. She went on to host Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America, in addition to authoring two cookbooks.
By some accounts, she was the Food Network’s first openly queer host. During a 2012 interview, fellow TV food personality Ted Allen mentioned that Burrell was in a relationship with a woman. Burrell was not publicly out at the time, and some media outlets accused Allen of outing her. However, Burrell’s reps later told Page Six that she had never made a secret of her relationship and did not feel that she had been outed.
In 2013, People reported that Burrell had announced her engagement to fellow chef Koren Grieveson. It’s unclear when the couple ended their relationship, but by 2018, Burrell was dating Stuart Claxton. The couple married in 2021.
On Tuesday, several of Burrell’s former Worst Cooks in America co-hosts posted tributes to her on social media.
Tyler Florence wrote that he and his family were “heartbroken” by the news of Burrell’s death. “We spent our summers in NYC filming [Worst Cooks] and we all went out to dinner once a week as a big family,” Florence wrote. “No one was funnier. She was Mensa smart with razor wit and sincere kindness… She lit up the room. A very special person who shared her love of cooking with a generation. I was lucky to have a front row seat to watch her gift.”
“Anne wasn’t just a fiery chef,” Robert Irvine wrote in an Instagram post. She was a radiant spirit who lit up every room she entered. I’ll always remember her unwavering dedication, not just to food, but to lifting others up. She believed in nurturing culinary potential and celebrating small victories, whether in an amateur cook or on a charity fundraiser.”
“Some of the most fun and best memories are with you,” Beau MacMillan wrote of Burrell. “How honored I was to be your friend!”
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