Chef, author and television personality Anthony Bourdain has died in an apparent suicide. He was 61 years old. At the time of his death, he was in France, filming an episode of his award-winning CNN series Parts Unknown. The network released a statement praising his talents. "His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller."

Bourdain spent years working in the restaurant industry, but he caught the world's attention as a writer, with his 1999 New Yorker article "Don't Eat Before Reading This." This led to his bestselling memoir, Kitchen Confidential. Then the charismatic "bad boy" of the culinary industry spent nearly two decades traveling the world, making the TV shows No Reservations, The Layover and Parts Unknown.

In 2016, his show got its biggest guest. President Barack Obama appeared on Parts Unknown, joining Bourdain for a simple meal of pho and beer in Hanoi, Vietnam. In the caption, Bourdain pointed out that they sat on "low plastic stools." The chef famously despised pretension, arguing the value of "peasant foods" and seeking adventures in the less affluent parts of the world.

On Twitter, Barack Obama and many others have posted heartfelt tributes to Anthony Bourdain. From his CNN colleagues to other celebrity chefs to to social media stars like Chrissy Teigen, he touched a lot of lives. The "original rock of the culinary world" will be missed.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1005117568913412098]]

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[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/GordonRamsay/status/1005063770744516608]]

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[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/TheMandyMoore/status/1005053465352171520]]

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[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/1005048145057902592]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/StationCDRKelly/status/1005076061397413888]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/ashleyn1cole/status/1005059199318069248]]

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[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/tomcolicchio/status/1005081430936911872]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/AdamRichman/status/1005060880327995392]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/andrewzimmern/status/1005061070057336832]]

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Bourdain is survived by his girlfriend, Italian actress and director Asia Argento, and his 11-year-old daughter. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

Chef, author and television personality Anthony Bourdain has died in an apparent suicide. He was 61 years old. At the time of his death, he was in France, filming an episode of his award-winning CNN series Parts Unknown. The network released a statement praising his talents. "His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller."

Bourdain spent years working in the restaurant industry, but he caught the world's attention as a writer, with his 1999 New Yorker article "Don't Eat Before Reading This." This led to his bestselling memoir, Kitchen Confidential. Then the charismatic "bad boy" of the culinary industry spent nearly two decades traveling the world, making the TV shows No Reservations, The Layover and Parts Unknown.

In 2016, his show got its biggest guest. President Barack Obama appeared on Parts Unknown, joining Bourdain for a simple meal of pho and beer in Hanoi, Vietnam. In the caption, Bourdain pointed out that they sat on "low plastic stools." The chef famously despised pretension, arguing the value of "peasant foods" and seeking adventures in the less affluent parts of the world.

On Twitter, Barack Obama and many others have posted heartfelt tributes to Anthony Bourdain. From his CNN colleagues to other celebrity chefs to to social media stars like Chrissy Teigen, he touched a lot of lives. The "original rock of the culinary world" will be missed.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1005117568913412098]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/AsiaArgento/status/1005116310366269440]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/1005054849057034240]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/GordonRamsay/status/1005063770744516608]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/jamieoliver/status/1005071271145672705]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/TheMandyMoore/status/1005053465352171520]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1005057313110151169]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/1005048145057902592]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/StationCDRKelly/status/1005076061397413888]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/ashleyn1cole/status/1005059199318069248]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/ashleyn1cole/status/1005059715611676672]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/tomcolicchio/status/1005081430936911872]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/AdamRichman/status/1005060880327995392]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/andrewzimmern/status/1005061070057336832]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/andrewzimmern/status/1005085965688410112]]

Bourdain is survived by his girlfriend, Italian actress and director Asia Argento, and his 11-year-old daughter. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.