Beloved TV chef Anne Burrell has tragically died aged 55.
Burrell was a fan favorite on the Food Network; she worked as the host and mentor on Worst Cooks in America from its very beginnings in 2010 through to 2024.
The 55-year-old TV personality was deeply passionate about cooking and used her skills to help contestants on the show.
Her bold personality and distinctive looks made her popular on the Food Network.
Burrell first appeared as a sous chef on Iron Chef America. She then went on to her Emmy-nominated show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, running for nine seasons.
The TV star also appeared on Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and most recently, House of Knives, premiering in March 2025.
After hearing the tragic news of Burrell’s passing, fans have flooded social media with tributes.
One person writes: “I was cooking with my son last night and showing him how to dice a bell pepper, and I said, ‘Slices, sticks, dices’ just like Anne Burrell taught me.”
“Anne taught me how to hard-boil eggs- her method works the absolute best. “Hard-boiled eggs should be two colors- white and yellow,” another fan remembers. “That was like over a decade ago. This is a great loss.”
“This struck me to my core. She was a true inspiration to me and many chefs around the world,” a third says. “We just lost one of the greats. RIP Chef, you will be missed dearly. “
Burrell’s family released a statement announcing their loss: “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — 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.”
The larger-than-life TV personality also authored two cookbooks, a New York Times bestseller, ‘Cook Like a Rock Star,’ and ‘Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower.’
Burrell was a celebrity ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a member of City Harvest’s Food Council, and on the advisory board of the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
The chef was found unconscious and unresponsive at her Brooklyn home on June 17.
Currently, no official cause of death has been released.
Burrell is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, stepson, Javier, her mother, Marlene, and sister, Jane, her children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and her brother Ben.
