Celebrity chef Anne Burrell found dead in shower with pills nearby as friends recall her final improv night
Anne Burrell, the beloved celebrity chef known for her spiky blonde hair and no-nonsense kitchen style, was found dead in her Brooklyn apartment on the morning of June 17. She was just 55.
Authorities say they’re investigating her death as a possible drug overdose. According to a police document reviewed by The New York Times, Burrell was discovered unresponsive in her shower around 7:50 in the morning. First responders had been called for a possible cardiac arrest. The report said she was found surrounded by about 100 assorted pills. So far, there’s no official word on what those pills were or what caused her death. The city’s medical examiner completed an autopsy but hasn’t released a cause yet.
Burrell’s sudden passing left the food world and fans in shock. She was best known as the fiery host of Worst Cooks in America and had become a familiar face on Food Network with shows like Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Chef Wanted. Her personality was as bold as her catchphrases and she brought energy to every kitchen she entered.
Food Network shared a heartfelt message saying Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent who showed people the joy a good meal could bring.
In recent months, fans had started to wonder about her absence from the latest season of Worst Cooks. When one asked about it on Instagram in January, she replied simply, “Honestly I don’t know” without elaborating.
While she wasn’t on screen, Burrell had taken up something new. She started studying improv comedy at Second City in Brooklyn and had just performed for the first time the night before she passed. In a post from March, she joked that improv helped her come out of her shell though she admitted she didn’t need much help there. Friends at that performance say she was in great spirits and seemed genuinely happy.
Just a few days after her death, loved ones gathered at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan to say goodbye. Among those attending were fellow Food Network stars Amanda Freitag and Geoffrey Zakarian.
Anne was born in Cazenovia, New York and trained at the Culinary Institute of America. She also studied in Italy before making a name for herself in New York’s restaurant world. She first appeared on Food Network as a sous chef to Mario Batali and quickly carved out her own path.
She’s survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, her step-son, and other close family members. Stuart was the one who found her that morning.
For now, her cause of death remains uncertain, and toxicology tests may take weeks to complete. But her friends, fans, and fellow chefs are remembering her for her zest for life, her mentorship, and the unforgettable energy she brought to every dish and every moment.