Food Network star Anne Burrell dead at 55
Anne Burrell, the Food Network star best known for leading the channel's hit show 'Worst Cooks in America,' died on Tuesday. She was 55.
Burrell died at her home in Brooklyn, according to TMZ. Her cause of death was not immediately reported; sources told the outlet she was found unresponsive at the residence Tuesday morning.
'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,' Burrell's family told People in a statement. 'Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit and boundless love remain eternal.'
Burrell became a fan favorite at the Food Network for her energetic personality on 'Worst Cooks,' doing her best to shape floundering chefs into respectable recipe followers.
When Burrell wasn't tapped to join the show's 28th season in January — after playing a central role in the first 27 — viewers were appalled and even Burrell was baffled. When asked on social media why she wasn't on the show anymore, she replied, 'I don't know.'
Though she was only 55, Burrell was a Food Network veteran, competing in more than 200 culinary battles on the channel. She got her start as a sous chef on 'Iron Chef America' before taking on a larger role.
Some of her many appearances included 'Chef Wanted,' 'Chopped,' 'Food Network Star' and a new series, 'House of Knives,' which debuted in March.
Born on Sept. 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, N.Y., Burrell didn't begin her culinary journey until first obtaining an English and communications degree from Canisius University in Buffalo.
But from there, it was all food. She graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, then snagged a job at a Michelin star restaurant in Italy before eventually moving to New York City.
Her TV career began in 2005 as a sous chef to Mario Batali on 'Iron Chef,' but it took off a few years later when she got her own program, 'Secrets of a Restaurant Chef.'
'Burrell's on-air persona combines the physical heft of Batali, a permanent case of bed-head and the totally wacky comedic sensibility of a pre-rehab Robin Williams,' the Dallas Observer wrote in 2011.
In addition to her TV success, Burrell wrote two cookbooks: 'Cook Like a Rock Star' in 2011 and 'Own Your Kitchen' in 2013.
'I like to put happy and joy into my food, and it's not so serious,' Burrell told Tasting Table in an April interview. 'I teach the worst cooks in the world. I mean, you got to know how to do that.'
Burrell is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, whom she married in 2021; her stepson, Javier; her mother, Marlene; and her siblings, Ben and Jane.
___
© 2025 New York Daily News.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Anne Burrell's death under investigation as possible drug overdose: report
New details of Food Network star Anne Burrell's shocking passing have emerged. The New York Police Department is reportedly investigating Burrell's sudden death as a possible drug overdose, according to a document viewed by The New York Times on Friday. The internal document reportedly said that Burrell was 'discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.' The New York Police Department is reportedly investigating Burrell's sudden death as a possible drug overdose. Getty Images for DuJour A spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also confirmed on Friday that Burrell's autopsy had been completed, but any findings connected to the cause and manner of her death were still pending. On Thursday, as the NYPD continued to investigate Burrell's sudden and unexplained death, sources told The Post that the Food Network host's body had been discovered next to dozens of pills inside her Brooklyn home. Burrell, who was perhaps most popular for hosting the Food Network shows 'Worst Cooks in America' and 'Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,' passed away on Tuesday, June 17, at the age of 55. Her loved ones were the first to confirm the shocking news in a statement that afternoon. 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend – her smile lit up every room she entered,' Burrell's family said. 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,' they added. 'Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Megan Thee Stallion Brings Hot Girl Summer to Love Island USA
Season 7 of Love Island USA was already spicy, but the show keeps leveling up. I'm obsessed! Summer House alum Paige DeSorbo hosted a lumberjack game for the islanders. And there was a naughty Leather and Lace party. Plus, for the first time, America voted and chose partners for three bombshells. And some islanders were spinning out afterwards. However, now the show has cranked the heat to scorching new levels because Megan Thee Stallion is serving up a Hot Girl Summer for the islanders. After the blind re-coupling and America's vote recoupling, some of the islanders weren't happy. When America picked Hannah Fields to couple with bombshell Pepe Garcia, she had been planning to stay in a couple with Charlie Georgiou. However, Charlie was voted off, so Hannah moved on. But she seems like she misses Charlie. Meanwhile, America tore apart Jeremiah Brown and Huda Mustafa. And they were the first couple (so far) to have sex in the villa. When Jeremiah was coupled with Iris Kendall, Huda was furious. However, their relationship had a toxic dynamic that was wearing on Jeremiah. And I was living for Amaya Espinal's hostile competition with her former partner, Ace Greene. You know you shouldn't have picked her, Ace! So, in essence, a hot twerking contest is what this group needed. TMZ reported that Megan brought her sexy moves and had the islanders compete in a twerking contest. Oh, Lord! You may need to keep a cool drink on hand for those sultry shenanigans! Plus, Love Island USA reportedly had 1.2 billion minutes streamed in less than one week. And that was across nine episodes! Season 7 is killing it, because it took last season almost one month to hit a billion minutes streamed. Love Island USA is streaming on Peacock. TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF LOVE ISLAND USA SEASON 7? ARE YOU EXCITED TO SEE MEGAN THEE STALLION? The post Megan Thee Stallion Brings Hot Girl Summer to Love Island USA appeared first on Reality Tea.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Anne Burrell Shared Possible New Career Plans After Stepping Back from 'Worst Cooks' Shortly Before Death
Anne Burrell appeared on the March 13 episode of Tori Spelling's misSPELLING podcast Burrell said she felt she had "more to do" in her life beyond her culinary and TV careers The late chef shared that she had begun taking an improv class and was "excited" about the experienceAnne Burrell was exploring new creative paths shortly before her sudden death. In a March 13 episode of Tori Spelling's misSPELLING podcast, the celebrity chef addressed stepping away from her longtime Food Network gig as a mentor on Worst Cooks in America. 'I can cook, yes, I can do TV, but also, what else? I've got more to do in my life, I feel like,' she told Spelling. 'Interestingly, I just started taking acting classes," Burrell shared. "It's like, an improv for actors class. I got there and it's like, eight people in the class. I'm the oldest one. Every other person is like, 'Oh, I have a master's in fine arts in theater.' ' Spelling was encouraging, even as Burrell voiced her doubts, admitting that she was "just dipping my toe" into the artistic outlet but felt "very excited" about the experience. 'I'm like, 'Okay, I've never taken an acting class. I don't know, this is new to me.' I wonder if these delightful and super-talented kids look at me and they're like, 'What's this old lady doing here?'' she said with a laugh. Burrell got her start on Food Network as Mario Batali's sous chef on Iron Chef. She appeared on many other programs on the network, but was a mainstay on Worst Cooks. The New York native served as a mentor on the cooking competition show for 27 seasons, from 2010 to 2024. Each season, Burrell mentored the Blue Team, while another famous chef — names like Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, Tyler Florence, Alex Guarnaschelli and more— captained the opposing Red Team. The goal was to put their group of "worst cooks in America" through culinary boot camp, with one team ultimately winning the final challenge: cooking a restaurant-quality, three-course meal for three professional food critics. Burrell's team won 15 of her 27 seasons. However, for the most recent season, which aired from January to February of 2025, Burrell stepped away from the show, and Antonia Lofaso took the reins for the Blue Team. Burrell kept things vague when Spelling asked about a possible Worst Cooks return in the future, noting that she was exploring new possibilities. 'I've got a few other things that I'm working on as well, which I'm not quite ready to share yet," she said. "Hopefully, exciting things [are] coming.' On the podcast, Burrell also opened up about meeting husband Stuart Claxton on Bumble after deciding to finally try out dating apps in her late 40s. "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 — until I have accomplished stuff," she said of finding love later in life. In her 20s and 30s, she said, "I 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. But I just started to feel like, all right, you're getting a little old to keep on doing this." She and Claxton tied the knot on Oct. 16, 2021, and she became a stepmother to his 22-year-old son, Javier. "Kids were never on my radar, really," the chef admitted. "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." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Burrell died on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, at her home in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was 55. She is survived by Claxton and Javier, as well as her mother, Marlene, and sister, Jane, plus Jane's children Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas and her brother, Ben. "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. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal." Read the original article on People
