Bobby Flay, a colleague of Anne Burrell on the Food Network, has opened up about a "gift" she gave him before she passed away.
Anne Burrell died at the age of 55, having been discovered unresponsive in the shower of her Brooklyn home on the morning of June 17, following an improv show the night before.
Her husband, Stuart Claxton, reportedly saw her last around 1:00AM and then found her cold, unconscious body around 7:50AM, according to TMZ.
He immediately called 911 and was advised to perform CPR.
A New York City Fire Department source later told Page Six that the caller believed she had suffered “cardiac arrest” and was “DOA [dead on arrival],” with EMS pronouncing her deceased at the scene per NYPD officials.
An official cause of death remains unconfirmed pending an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
On June 18 - just one day after Burrell was discovered “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Brooklyn home - Bobby Flay shared a heartfelt message via his Instagram Stories.
He wrote: “Worst Cooks in America was the funnest show on TV. All of your co-hosts (me included) were just alongside for the Anne Burrell ride.”
He added: “The greatest gift I got from AB was turning me on to a world of Maine Coon Cats (including Nacho)... a gift that I'll have forever,” alongside a photo of Burrell beaming as she hugged two calico Maine Coon cats.
Burrell’s career was marked by her role as chef-mentor on Worst Cooks in America, which began in 2010, where she joined rotating celebrity chefs - including Flay - for four seasons of spirited culinary competition.
Born in Cazenovia, New York, in 1969, Burrell studied English and Communications at Canisius College before graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996.
She trained in Italy, worked under culinary luminaries like Lidia Bastianich at Felidia and at Soho’s Savoy, and taught at the Institute of Culinary Education before rising to TV fame on Iron Chef America.
Her Emmy-nominated series Secrets of a Restaurant Chef ran for nine successful seasons.
She also appeared on Chopped, Chef Wanted, Food Network Star, and The Best Thing I Ever Ate, but it was Worst Cooks in America, launching in 2010, that cemented her role as a beloved mentor over 28 seasons.
Burrell authored two cookbooks - Cook Like a Rock Star, which became a New York Times bestseller, and Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower - and most recently appeared in the March 2025 series House of Knives.
She leaves behind husband Stuart Claxton, stepson Javier, mother Marlene, sister Jane, brother Ben, and nieces and nephews Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas.