The culinary world was shaken by the passing of Anne Burrell, the beloved Food Network star known for her fiery personality and passion for cooking. Burrell was found unresponsive in her Brooklyn home in June 2025. A month later, the New York City Medical Examiner officially ruled her death as suicide, citing acute intoxication from a combination of substances. Her husband, Stuart Claxton, discovered her hours later and called emergency services, but resuscitation was not possible.
Anne Burrell was best known for hosting Worst Cooks in America, where she mentored struggling home chefs with sharp wit and compassion. Her career also included leading shows like Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and making appearances on Iron Chef. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she also taught at the Institute of Culinary Education. Her colleagues and fans admired her not only for her skills but for her authentic and unapologetic presence on screen.
Outside of the kitchen, Burrell’s personal journey included high-profile relationships and a late-in-life marriage to Claxton, whom she met online. Their 2021 wedding, held in her hometown of Cazenovia, was a joyful and intimate event that reflected her vibrant personality. Though previously engaged to fellow chef Koren Grieveson, Burrell found lasting companionship with Claxton and embraced her role as a stepmother to his son.
Anne Burrell’s death is a heartbreaking loss, but her legacy continues in the kitchens she inspired and the people she empowered. Her story is also a reminder of the importance of mental health and compassion. In remembering her, fans and fellow chefs honor a life that blended bold flavors, big dreams, and a fierce love for food and people.