Content Warning: the following article contains discussions of suicide and suicidal ideation.
BelovedWorst Cooks in Americastar Anne Burrell’s cause of death has been revealed afterher sudden passing on July 13, 2025, at the age of 55. At the time, the New York City police department shared that Anne was found unconscious and unresponsive in her Brooklyn home, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement sources later toldTMZthatAnne’s husband, Stuart Claxton, had found her unresponsive a few hours after he’d last seen her alive. The 911 call reported a cardiac arrest. The night before her death, Anne had performed an improv show at the Second City New York in Brooklyn, which was the culmination of an improv class that she’d been taking there.
Anne Burrell’s cause of death has now been revealed.
TheNew York Postnow reports thatAnne died by suicide. The New York City medical examiner’s office determined the cause of death. Anne is survived by her husband, Stuart, his son Javier, her mother Marlene, her sister Jane, and her brother Ben.
What Anne Burrell’s Legacy Means For Food Network
Anne Will Always Be Remembered
On July 28, Anne’s final season ofWorst Cooks in Americawill premiereon the Food Network. The season will feature culinary-challenged professional performers, who were mentored by either Anne or newWorst Cooks in Americahost and judge Gabe Bertaccini. WhileWorst Cooksis a zany and funny show, it’ll be bittersweet to watch Anne in her final appearance before her tragic death.
Anne will always be remembered by Food Network fans for her cooking expertise and her feisty personality. As the host and mentor ofWorst Cooks in Americafor 28 seasons,Anne was a loving teacherwho inspired people to let go of their fears in the kitchenin order to create restaurant-quality meals.
Anne’s career as a chef began in 1996, when she graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. She then worked in several New York City restaurants.Anne later became a Food Network legend, appearing on shows such asBeat Bobby Flay, Chef Wanted, Chopped, House of Knives, Worst Cooks in America,andSecrets of a Restaurant Chef, which received two Emmy nominations in 2011.
Anne also published two cookbooks,Cook Like a Rock Star(2011), which became aNew York Timesbestseller, andOwn Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower(2013).
Our Take On The Legacy Anne Burrell Is Leaving Behind
Anne Made A Strong Impact On The Culinary World
I’ve been a fan of Anne for many years, andI’ve followed her career since she first began appearing on the Food Network. Whenever I’m cooking, I hear Anne’s voice in my head saying,“Brown food tastes good!“or I imagine her drawing a red line on my finger with a Sharpie for holding my knife the wrong way, like she lovingly did to the contestants onWorst Cooks in America.
Like so many others,I learned so much from Annefrom watching her onshows such asWorst Cooks in America.
I’ll miss watching Anne on Food Network so much. She was a beautiful person who truly cared about others, and who was a patient and loving teacher to everyone she mentored onWorst Cooks in America.Watching her final season will be hard, but it’s also going to be beautiful to see her do what she did best one last time. Anne is loved by so many people, andher legacy will live on forever.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
Worst Cooks In America
Cast
Worst Cooks in America is a reality television series that follows contestants with limited culinary skills as they undergo an eight-week boot camp. They compete for a $25,000 prize by learning essential cooking techniques, culminating in preparing a three-course meal for food critics.
