Celebrity chef Anne Burrell dies at 55
Celebrity chef and beloved Food Network personality Anne Burrell has died at the age of 55 at her home in New York, according to the network.
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Chef and TV personality Anne Burrell, best known for her numerous appearances on the Food Network, has died. She was 55.
Burrell, a recognizable figure on the culinary channel thanks to her spiky platinum blonde hairdo and tart wit, died on June 17 at her home in New York, according to a press release from the Food Network. A cause of death was not disclosed.
The New York-bred chef made her Food Network debut in 2005 on the cutthroat competition series “Iron Chef America,” serving as a sous chef for Iron Chef Mario Batali. She also hosted the shows “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and “Worst Cooks in America.”
“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 statement. “Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.”
Inspired by both her mother and fellow TV chef personality Julia Child, Burrell enrolled in The Culinary Institute of America after graduating with a degree in English and Communication from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.
She also developed her culinary chops by attending the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners, during which she completed various apprenticeships and studied Italian cuisine. After returning to the U.S. in 1998, Burrell made her mark on the Manhattan food scene with stints at Felidia Ristorante and Savoy in SoHo.
Burrell’s series “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” ran for nine seasons from 2008-2012 and earned a pair of Daytime Emmy nominations, including an outstanding lifestyle/culinary host nod for Burrell.
The renowned chef was also the face of “Worst Cooks in America,” a zany reality-competition series in which Burrell helped guide a group of incompetent home cooks through a culinary boot camp. Throughout several seasons, Burrell co-hosted the series with the likes of Beau MacMillan, Robert Irvine, Bobby Flay and Tyler Florence.
Burrell most recently appeared on Food Network’s multicultural competition show “House of Knives,” which premiered in March.
In addition to her prolific television career, Burrell authored two cookbooks: the 2011 New York Times bestseller “Cook Like a Rock Star” and 2013’s “Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire & Empower.”
Burrell is survived by her mother Marlene, her sister Jane and her husband Stuart Claxton, whom she married in October 2021, as well as Claxton’s son Javier.
“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend,” her family said in a statement. “Her smile lit up every room she entered. 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.”
(This story was updated to include video.)