Anne Burrell, Food Network Host and Celebrity Chef, Dies at 55

Celebrity chef, author, and television star Anne Burrell died at her home in Brooklyn today at the age of 55, People reports. The Emmy-winning Worst Chefs In America, Chopped, and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef host, born September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, New York, had been a fixture on the Food Network since her first appearance as a sous chef on Iron Chef in 2000, and quickly became a fan favorite. Instantly recognizable with her spiked, blonde hair, and lavish, brash laughter, Burrell captivated audiences and fellow culinary professionals not just with her humor, but with her sharp kitchen skills, honed at the Culinary Institute of America — from which she received a diploma in 1996 — and in kitchens around New York City. 

Burrell was a beloved presence at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen over the years, wowing crowds while braising chicken thighs with mushrooms and an almond puree in 2018, casually stirring no-recipe risotto while sipping prosecco onstage in 2017, and walking former F&W editor in chief Dana Cowin through the art of pasta-making in 2016. Offscreen, Burrell was known as a philanthropist, tirelessly contributing her time and resources to causes including the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and City Harvest’s Food Council.

Cowin told F&W, “Anne was a mega-watt star, with mega-watt hair, who always impressed me in conversations with her commitment to craft and family. Such a huge loss to good cooks — and bad,” making reference to her Burrell’s tireless commitment to helping cooks of every level get comfortable in the kitchen, on Worst Chefs, and in her many TV and event appearances, and in her bestselling cookbooks, Cook Like a Rock Star and Own Your Kitchen. 

“I have known Anne for over 20 years now. She was my friend,” chef Andrew Zimmern told Food & Wine. “She worked in NYC kitchens that I frequented and then of course through our television, nonprofit co-appearances, and food festival work we would see each other often. I was just with her several weeks ago, cooking in Puerto Rico.” 

Zimmern continued, “My deepest love goes out to her family, friends, and fans. At this time I think we need to focus on sharing our love and admiration for all the good things she represented and all the joy she brought to the lives of so many. I hope that as time passes we will learn more about this senseless tragedy.” 

Fellow Food Network star and friend Maneet Chauhan expressed shock and sadness, telling F&W, “She was always really kind to me but her biggest impact I realized was to young girls. My daughter wanted to only meet her and Buddy [Valastro] last year when we did Chefs Making Waves. She was so kind and gracious and encouraging.”

Burrell is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton; her stepson, Javier; her mother, Marlene; and her sister, Jane. The family requests that donations be made to City Harvest or Breakthrough T1D, formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, in Burrell’s honor.