Food Network chef Anne Burrell, who was found unresponsive at her Brooklyn home on June 17, reportedly died by suicide. According to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s report obtained by TMZ, she consumed a lethal mix of alcohol and prescription drugs that ultimately led to her death. The news has left fans and the culinary industry in shock. While the substances found in her system are typically prescription-based, it’s strongly advised not to mix them due to their potentially dangerous, unpredictable effects. The 55-year-old’s sudden exit from Worst Cooks in America had already raised concern, with fans questioning her abrupt removal.
Also read: Anne Burrell, Food Network chef, found dead at 55 after sudden exit from Worst Cooks in America
Anne Burrell’s cause of death revealed
On June 17, the fire department rushed to Anne’s home after a 911 call reported cardiac arrest. Her body was found ‘unresponsive’ lying on the bathroom floor. Paramedics tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead on the spot. What shocked fans even more was that just five days earlier, the chef had shared a life update on social media, smiling and strolling through NYC. According to the official report, Anne had taken diphenhydramine and cetirizine (both allergy meds), ethanol (alcohol), and amphetamine, a stimulant usually prescribed for ADHD. Experts say each of these, taken alone and in the right dose, is generally safe. But mixed together, especially with alcohol, they can turn unpredictable and fatal. Anne’s death was first confirmed by her family and rep, who called her “a beloved wife, daughter, sister, stepmom, and friend,” and said her smile lit up every room she walked into, that her warmth and spirit won’t be forgotten.
Anne was married to Stuart Claxton (a Univision ad executive she married in 2021). She used to live with her step-son Javier, her mother, Marlene, her sister Jane, Jane’s kids Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and her brother Ben.
Anne rose to fame as a sous-chef on Iron Chef America, following which she signed up for her own show Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which ran for nine seasons. Born in Cazenovia, New York, in 1969, Anne, who grew up watching her mother cook and was heavily influenced by Julia Child, pursued her passion in cooking and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and then flew to Italy to master European cuisine.
In her career, she hosted and appeared on multiple cooking shows including Chopped, Chef Wanted, Food Network Star, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Beat Bobby Flay. But she’s best known for Worst Cooks in America, where she coached clueless home cooks with her signature style for 27 seasons. Her final TV appearance will air on July 28 with the newest season of Worst Cooks in America on Food Network, streaming the next day on HBO Max.
