BROOKLYN, NY — Beloved Food Network personality and chef Anne Burrell has died at the age of 55, in an apparent suicide at her Brooklyn residence on June 17, authorities confirmed. The City of New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner reported that acute intoxication from a combination of diphenhydramine, cetirizine, amphetamine, and ethanol was the cause of death.
Burrell — widely known for her fiery personality and longtime role as co‑host of Worst Cooks in America — leaves behind a close family including her husband, Stuart Claxton; his son Javier; her mother Marlene; sister Jane and Jane’s children; and her brother Ben. Tributes have poured in from across the culinary world, with colleagues remembering her warmth, mentorship and boundless passion for food.
Born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, New York, Burrell honed her craft at the Culinary Institute of America and later completed advanced study in Italian cuisine at the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners. Early in her career she worked alongside acclaimed chefs like Lidia Bastianich and led the kitchen at Savoy in SoHo before moving into culinary education at the Institute of Culinary Education.
Burrell’s television career began with appearances on Iron Chef America, and she went on to host the Emmy‑nominated Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. She was also a familiar face on shows such as Chopped, Chef Wanted and Food Network Star. Her final project — mentoring on Worst Cooks in America — is scheduled to debut on July 28 on Food Network and will stream on Max.
In addition to her television work, Burrell was a bestselling cookbook author whose guidance inspired both home cooks and professional chefs. Her impact on the food community was widely celebrated, and her death represents a significant loss to fans and peers alike.