Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell’s Death Ruled Suicide by NYC Medical Examiner

The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed that celebrity chef Anne Burrell died by suicide on June 17, 2025, at her home in Brooklyn.

The 55-year-old’s cause of death was listed as acute intoxication due to a lethal combination of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.

According to an internal police report obtained by The New York Times, Burrell was found unconscious and unresponsive in her shower, surrounded by nearly 100 assorted pills.

The news has stunned fans and colleagues across the culinary world. Burrell, known for her fierce culinary style and spirited mentorship, was a transformative figure on food television. A spokesperson for her husband, Stuart Claxton, said the family would not be making a public statement and asked for privacy as they mourn.

Born and raised in Cazenovia, New York, Burrell’s love of cooking was ignited by her mother’s home-cooked meals and inspired by legendary chef Julia Child. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996, she studied in Italy at the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners, mastering the art of Italian cuisine.

She returned to the U.S. in 1998 and built her reputation working alongside culinary icons like Lidia Bastianich at Felidia and later helming the kitchen at Savoy in SoHo, where her Mediterranean dishes prepared over a wood fire earned critical praise.

Burrell’s TV breakthrough came in 2005 as Mario Batali’s sous-chef on Iron Chef America. Her bold presence and sharp skills led to her own Emmy-nominated show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which aired for nine seasons. She went on to appear in Chopped, Food Network Star, Chef Wanted, and most recently House of Knives in 2025.

However, it was her 27-season run as co-host of Worst Cooks in America that made her a household name. Her tough-love guidance and unmistakable laugh endeared her to viewers as she helped amateur cooks find their confidence in the kitchen.

Her final season of Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible, co-hosted with Gabe Bertaccini, premieres July 28, 2025, at 9 p.m. on Food Network.

“Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent,” Food Network said in a statement. “She always shared the joy that a delicious meal can bring. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and fans during this time of tremendous loss.”