More details are emerging over the death of Anne Burrell, the beloved Food Network star, who has tragically died at the age of 55.
Per the New York Post, The Worst Cooks in America host was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Brooklyn apartment at around 7:50AM on Tuesday, June 17.
Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene, the NYPD confirmed.
Her cause of death remains under investigation, pending an autopsy from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Though police did not initially name the deceased, a search of public records verified that the address provided by the NYPD matched Burrell’s home, The Post reports.
According to the 76th Precinct, officers responded to a 911 call for “an unconscious and unresponsive 55-year-old female.” EMS arrived shortly after and declared her deceased on-site.
“Her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal”
Burrell’s death was confirmed in a statement released by her family: “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered. Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world.
"Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”
Born in Cazenovia, New York, in 1969, Burrell found her passion for food early on, crediting her mother’s cooking and the inspiration of Julia Child.
She studied English and Communications at Canisius College before enrolling in the Culinary Institute of America, graduating in 1996.
She trained further in Italy before making her way into NYC’s elite food scene, working under Lidia Bastianich at Felidia and in the kitchen at Soho’s Savoy. By the early 2000s, she was teaching at the Institute of Culinary Education before stepping into the spotlight with a breakout appearance on Iron Chef America.
Burrell shot to stardom with her Emmy-nominated show Secrets of a Restaurant Chef in 2008, which ran for nine seasons. She soon became a Food Network mainstay, appearing 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 as a household name. Over 28 seasons and nearly 200 episodes, Burrell mentored kitchen disasters into capable home cooks, winning over fans with her sass, skill, and signature laugh.
Her cookbooks — Cook Like a Rock Star and Own Your Kitchen — became fan favorites, with the first landing her a New York Times bestseller.
Most recently, she returned to screens in March 2025 for the competitive series House of Knives.
Burrell’s final Instagram post, shared just five days before her death, showed her beaming alongside local New York icon Elizabeth Eaton Rosenthal, aka the Green Lady of Brooklyn.
“I ran into @greenladyofbrooklyn in my neighborhood today!! I’m not going to lie- I have been keeping an eye out for her. I may or may not have followed her down the street for a minute. She is just lovely!!!”
She had also recently attended a dinner at Soho House with fellow chefs Franklin Becker and Elizabeth Falkner.
Becker, heartbroken, shared photos and memories of their night together: “I am stunned… I just had dinner with Anne and Stuart the other night… We were making karaoke plans together. I simply cannot believe this. Anne was a gifted chef and a friend. No words.”
“She lit up every room”: Tributes pour in from culinary royalty
Tyler Florence, Burrell’s co-host on Worst Cooks in America, also paid an emotional tribute: “Anne was a legendary chef and an even better friend. She was the kind of person who showed up — for dinners, our kids birthday parties, or a swim in the ocean — and lit up every room she walked in to.”
He added: “We shared many adventures… She had a true gift for teaching people how to cook — with patience, wit and just the right amount of sass.”
“I’ll always picture Anne in her dressing room, knitting between takes, with one of her cats wandering in to say hello. She brought her generous heart, humor and feisty spirit to everything she did. She will be deeply missed by the entire Florence Family.”
Food Network, where Anne became a beloved staple, remembered her with deep affection, writing in a statement: “Anne 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. Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.”
A marriage forged on Bumble
Burrell met PR executive Stuart Claxton on Bumble in 2018. The two tied the knot in October 2021 and were regularly seen together at public events, including the City Harvest Gala in April 2025.
Reflecting on their relationship, Anne told PEOPLE: “I have to say, I love being married. We’re together all the time because Stuart works from home. It’s the being together all the time, but it’s also the adventure together.”
She is survived by Claxton and his son Javier, as well as her mother Marlene, siblings Jane and Ben, and her children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Burrell's family, friends, and fans at this time.