Anne Burrell, known for hosting Food Network series including Worst Cooks in America, died at her home June 17, her family confirmed to E! News. She was 55.
“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend—her smile lit up every room she entered,” her family said in a statement shared with E!. “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.”
Burrell is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, whom she wed in October 2021. She is also survived by her stepson Javier, her mother Marlene and her sister Jane. No cause of death was given.
Meanwhile, Food Network also shared a tribute to Burrell following her passing.
“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,” a network spokesperson said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.”
The TV personality first appeared on the cable channel in 2005 as a sous chef for Mark Ladner on Iron Chef America, where she quickly emerged as a fan favorite. Three years later, she began hosting her own series Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Culinary Program in 2011.
Prior to taking over the small screen, Burrell studied the restaurant business at the Culinary Institute of America before spending a year overseas attending the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners. Upon her return stateside, she worked as a Sous Chef at Felidia Ristorante in Manhattan and later became a Chef at Savoy Restaurant in Soho.
nd while her culinary expertise—which she shared in two best-selling cookbooks—made her a star, Burrell insisted on keeping things light in the kitchen.
“I truly, in my heart, feel that your food knows how you’re feeling when you cook it and it reacts accordingly,” she told Tasting Table in April. “I like to put happy and joy into my food, and it’s not so serious. I teach the worst cooks in the world. I mean, you got to know how to do that. So, to me, I want to express to people, ‘Take the fear factor out of it and put the fun factor in.’”
Burrell even found a fun new hobby in her final months as she began taking improv classes in New York City.
“I showed up on the first day and [was] by far and away the oldest person in my class and the only one without a theater degree,” she continued. “And I’m like, ‘Oh, well, whatever.’ You go for three hours a week and it’s playing games and then you talk about them afterwards, why we play them, and it’s so fun.”
In fact, Burrell took to the stage on the eve of her death, performing an improv show June 16, according to a post on Instagram.
Burrell was also passionate about helping her community, serving on the Garden of Dreams Foundation Advisory Board and acting as a celebrity ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. According to her obituary, she frequently said, “I feel so lucky to be able to share my true passion in life with others.”
For a look back at Burrell’s life, keep scrolling…
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