Anne Burrell.
Picture: Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Photos
Anne Burrell, the chef and Food Network star, is useless at 55. She was discovered “unconscious and unresponsive” in her house by police on June 17, per People, and the reason for dying is presently unknown. “Anne was a beloved spouse, sister, daughter, stepmother, and good friend — her smile lit up each room she entered,” her household mentioned in a press release. “Anne’s gentle radiated far past these she knew, touching tens of millions the world over. Although she is now not with us, her heat, spirit, and boundless love stay everlasting.”
Burrell was a Meals Community staple, internet hosting Secrets and techniques of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America, in addition to showing on reveals like Chopped and Meals Community Stars. “Anne was a outstanding particular person and culinary expertise — instructing, competing and at all times sharing the significance of meals in her life and the enjoyment {that a} scrumptious meal can carry,” the Meals Community mentioned in a July 17 assertion. “Our ideas are with Anne’s household, pals and followers throughout this time of large loss.”
Born in 1969 in Cazenovia, New York, Burrell graduated from Canisius Faculty earlier than attending the Culinary Institute of America in addition to the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners, then labored in New York eating places together with Savoy and Felidia. She started her tv profession as Mario Batali’s sous-chef on Iron Chef America in 2005, standing out for her fiery persona. From there, she starred in Secrets and techniques of a Restaurant Chef from 2008 to 2012, on which she taught common folks easy methods to prepare dinner like restaurateurs. “I attempt to take the worry issue out and let folks know that it doesn’t need to be this superior, daunting expertise,” Burrell informed the Canisius College Alumni Magazine in 2008. “Let’s simply simplify it and make superior stuff, so that you be ok with it after which folks can let you know how nice you might be!” She was a coach on Worst Cooks in America for 27 seasons, from 2010 to 2024, along with her workforce successful 15 instances. She married Stuart Claxton in 2021 and most just lately competed on Meals Community’s Home of Knives in 2025.
Burrell’s Meals Community co-stars, together with her former Worst Cooks rivals Robert Irvine and Tyler Florence, are among the many celebrities paying tribute to the chef. “Anne wasn’t only a fiery chef,” Irvine wrote on-line. “She was a radiant spirit who lit up each room she entered … I’ll at all times bear in mind her unwavering dedication, not simply to meals, however to lifting others up. She believed in nurturing culinary potential and celebrating small victories, whether or not in an newbie prepare dinner or on a charity fundraiser.” Under, extra tributes to the life and profession of Anne Burrell.
On Wednesday, Bobby Flay tributed Burrell in his Instagram tales. “Worst Cooks in America was the funnest present on TV,” he wrote. “Your whole co-hosts (me included) have been simply alongside for the Anne Burrell journey.” Flay additionally credited Burrell with “turning me on to a world of Maine Coon cats,” together with his pet Maine Coon Nacho, “a present that I’ll have eternally.”
Irvine was Burrell’s co-host on a number of seasons of Worst Cooks and posted a tribute to their “pleasant rivalry.” Most famously, within the present’s second season, the 2 mounted a facet guess over who gained: If Burrell misplaced, she’d lose her signature hair, but when she gained, Irvine must bleach his. In the end, Burrell gained. “I couldn’t think about dropping to a extra fierce competitor,” Irvine wrote in his tribute.
Florence additionally co-hosted a complete of seven seasons of Worst Cooks with Burrell, dropping to her six instances. He wrote mentioned he was “heartbroken” over her dying, including that “nobody was funnier. She was Mensa good with razor wit and honest kindness.”
In 2021, Corridor co-hosted season 21 of Worst Cooks with Burrell, finally successful the season. She wrote that she “completely cherished working with Anne” and known as Burrell a “fierce chef and teacher.”
Buddy Valastro, higher referred to as Cake Boss, mentioned Burrell’s “ardour, vitality, and love for meals lit up each kitchen.”
Drag Race competitor Ginger Minj was pals with Burrell out and in of drag. “I hope you might be rocking out and cooking up a feast tonight,” Minj wrote.
Kressley competed on season 11 of Worst Cooks and was pals with Burrell off-screen. He posted a selfie of the 2 of them that he knew “Anne cherished.”
Ebie is the daughter of rapper Eazy-E and competed on season 27 of Worst Cooks below Burrell. She posted a clip from the present and promised Burrell she’d “by no means maintain one other knife fallacious or I’ll think about your purple mark on my finger.”
Comic Loni Love gained the ninth season of Worst Cooks and stayed in touch with Burrell. “She would simply test on me out the blue,” Love mentioned. “I’ll miss her tremendously.”
Kinsley competed on seasons 21 and 22 of Worst Cooks and known as Burrell his “cooking mother.” “Worst Cooks in America was my favourite present to observe, and to go on it and have her imagine in me meant absolutely the world,” he wrote on June 18. “Chef Anne modified my life and I wouldn’t be the place I’m at this time with out her.”
