911 call: Chef Anne Burrell may have suffered cardiac arrest before death
Celebrity chef Anne Burrell may have gone into cardiac arrest before she suddenly died in her Brooklyn apartment this week.
Officers with the NYPD found Burrell unresponsive inside her Brooklyn home on Tuesday around 7:50 a.m., after a 911 caller reported that the chef had seemingly gone into cardiac arrest, a spokesperson for the NYC Fire Department told TMZ. Paramedics were unable to revive her and the Food Network star was pronounced dead on the scene. She was 55 years old.
Burrell's official cause of death has not yet been confirmed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner and an investigation into the matter is ongoing. Few other details have been provided.
Burrell, beloved for her high-energy and enthusiasm for all things for food, became a fan favorite at the Food Network with her signature spiky platinum blonde hair. She got her start as a sous chef on 'Iron Chef America,' but she's perhaps best known for her role on 'Worst Cooks in America,' during which worked to whip struggling chefs into shape.
With more than 200 culinary competitions under her belt, she also appeared on shows including 'Chef Wanted,' 'Chopped,' 'Food Network Star' and the new series, 'House of Knives,' which debuted in March.
'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' her family said in a statement.
'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,' it continued. 'Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.'
Burrell is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, whom she married in October 2021, and his son, Javier.
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New York Times
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New York Post
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Why Anne Burrell took a break from hosting ‘Worst Cooks in America' before her death
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Gcaballero/Southbeachphoto/Shutterstock Spelling inquired if Burrell purposely waited until later in life to settle down. Advertisement 'From when I was a kid, I don't know why, but I always was like, I am not getting married until I feel like I have something in life to share,' the Food Network alum recalled. 'Until I have accomplished stuff.' And in her 20s and 30s, Burrell said she was 'living my best life!' 'I was like, living the rock star chef life. I was working a lot, and I had a great social life.' 8 Anne Burrell during 'Worst Cooks in America.' Instagram/@officialworstcooks Then, one day, Burrell thought a change was necessary. 'I just started to feel like, all right, you're getting a little old to keep on doing this,' she confessed. 'Kids were never on my radar, really,' the cook confessed. 'I love being an aunt. I have nieces and nephews. So I'm like, [being a stepmom] is the perfect amount of parenting for me.' A month later, Burrell gushed over married life, telling the Daily Mail: 'October will be four years. It seems like it's been four minutes. I don't know if it's a honeymoon [phase] but I feel like it's settled into married life days which I really enjoy.' 8 Anne Burrell during her Food Network run. Instagram/@officialworstcooks Advertisement She also gave her other half a sweet shout-out on Valentine's Day in 2022, penning on Instagram, 'You make me the happiest girl in the world!!! I love you to the moon and back my sweet!!!' Burrell's family confirmed the news of her death in a heartbreaking statement to People on Tuesday. 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' they said. 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.' A cause of death has yet to be revealed. Advertisement 8 Jeff Mauro and Anne Burrell. Jason DeCrow That same day, police officers shared that EMS 'responded and pronounced her deceased on scene,' sharing that the 911 call was originally for a reported cardiac arrest. On Thursday, sources told The Post Burell's body was found next to dozens of pills. The author's death is still an ongoing investigation. After her passing, a representative from Food Network shared with The Post: '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. Our thoughts are with Anne's family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.' Advertisement 8 Anne Burrell from 'Worst Cooks in America.' Instagram/@officialworstcooks Friends of Burrell's from her time on the channel also spoke out after her passing. 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Rachael Ray says she's ‘truly shaken' after learning of Anne Burrell's unexpected death
Rachael Ray is paying tribute to her former co-host, Anne Burrell. The 56-year-old culinary star, best known for her Emmy-winning syndicated talk show 'Rachael Ray,' spent four seasons as Burrell's co-host on Food Network's hit show 'Worst Cooks In America.' Burrell, who hosted the show from 2010 to 2024, died on June 17, according to CNN. She was 55. 'The news about Anne has truly shaken us. John and I are heartbroken,' Ray wrote on behalf of her and her husband, John Cusimano, in a June 18 Instagram post. 'I can't quite believe it — such a strong, vibrant, fearless woman, so full of life and love, could be gone so soon,' she continued alongside several photos of the former co-hosts. Ray made her debut on 'Worst Cooks In America' in 2015 for the first celebrity edition of the show. Burrell's team won that season, but Ray returned to the show for three straight seasons in 2016 and 2017 — and her team was crowned the winner in two of those seasons (9 and 10). The two friends split a 2-2 tie in the four seasons they competed against each other. 'Anne was a rockstar!' Ray said of Burrell. 'I came to know her well through multiple seasons of Worst Cooks on Food Network, and she became so much more than a colleague.' 'Despite being surrounded by incredible chefs, she never once made me feel self-conscious about not being one — she always treated me as one of the gang,' she added. Ray went on to remember all the 'incredible laughs' they shared and Burrell's 'great taste in music.' 'I'll never forget walking into our dressing rooms at Food Network studios early in the morning and hearing her blasting the song of the moment down the hall,' she wrote. 'She was a force in the kitchen, in any room, in every life she touched,' Ray continued. Elsewhere in her social media tribute, Ray reflected on one of her fondest memories with Burrell. 'Anne honored me by asking me to be her bridesmaid, something I'd only done once before for my sister,' Ray wrote of Burrell and her husband, Stuart Claxton, whom she married in 2021. 'She even cooked for me and my guests at my wedding anniversary in Italy,' Ray added of Burrell. Burrell's family confirmed the culinary star's death in a June 17 statement shared by People. 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,' her family wrote. 'Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.' According to TMZ, Claxton 'found her unresponsive and lying on the floor of their shower' before calling 911. She was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after. 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' her family added in the statement. Many of her Food Network colleagues and fellow culinary superstars took to social media to honor her legacy. One Food Network spokesperson praised Burrell for 'teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring,' according to Today. Fellow culinary star Robert Irvine took to X to describe her as 'generous and supportive.' 'Anne wasn't just a fiery chef. She was a radiant spirit who lit up every room she entered,' he wrote. 'From the very beginning on Worst Cooks in America, our friendly rivalry was fueled by mutual respect.' Another one of her 'Worst Cooks' rivals, Tyler Florence, reflected on his time spent with Burrell. 'No one was funnier. She was Mensa smart with razor wit and sincere kindness,' he said of Burrell in a June 17 Instagram post. 'She was recognized everywhere. The city loved her.' Burrell is survived by her husband, his son Javier, her mother (Marlene), sister (Jane) and brother (Ben).
