Anne Burrell Dies at 55, Food Network Mourns Beloved Chef
Let’s cut to the chase: Anne Burrell, the vivacious culinary star best known for guiding viewers through epic kitchen misadventures on Worst Cooks in America, passed away at her home on June 17 at just 55, her family confirmed to E! News. “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend—her smile lit up every room she entered,” her loved ones shared in an emotional statement via E! News, underscoring the warmth she spread from coast to coast.
Food Network paid its respects in a heartfelt tribute, noting that Burrell “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.” The network’s official statement, echoed in press releases posted on FoodNetwork.com, praised her enduring legacy and sent condolences to her husband, Stuart Claxton, and stepson, Javier.
Long before she became a household name, Burrell honed her skills at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and sharpened her knives overseas at the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners. She cut her teeth in New York City’s top kitchens, rising from sous chef at Felidia to head chef at Savoy Restaurant in Soho. Her television breakthrough arrived in 2005 as sous chef to Mark Ladner on Iron Chef America—an appearance that rapidly won over fans and led to her own series, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. The show’s 2011 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Culinary Program solidified her status as a top-tier chef and TV personality.
Burrell’s philosophy was simple yet profound: cooking should be fun. In an April interview with Tasting Table, she explained, “Your food knows how you’re feeling when you cook it. I like to put happy and joy into my food.” That joyful spirit fueled her two bestselling cookbooks and powered her coaching of kitchen novices on Worst Cooks in America, where she turned culinary fear into confidence.
Even in her final weeks, Burrell pursued new challenges—she’d been taking improv classes in New York City and performed an entire set on June 16, according to a celebratory Instagram post. Beyond the stove and stage, she served on the Garden of Dreams Foundation Advisory Board and championed diabetes research as a celebrity ambassador for JDRF.
Her sudden departure leaves a void in both the culinary world and on our screens, but her recipes, pep talks, and boundless energy remain immortal. And there you have it. Make of that what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and eonline.com, FoodNetwork.com, Tasting Table, Instagram
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
