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Miami Herald
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘RIP my friend': SoBe food fest founder shares sweet story about chef Anne Burrell
Anne Burrell's sudden death at 55 on Tuesday came to a shock to all who knew her — or felt like they knew her. On social media, celebrities as well as fans posted tributes to the chef famous for such Food Network shows as 'Worst Cooks in America.' 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' her family said in a statement. '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 was also a fixture at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival for a number of years, hosting various events and dinners. On Instagram, SOBEWFF's founder Lee Schrager posted a picture of the two posing together, her spiky blond hair on full display, in an undated photo. The local businessman/foodie wrote that he was 'beyond saddened' by the news, and shared a serendipitous story about Burrell, before she hit it big on TV. Schrager recounted introducing Burrell to Food Network's then-president Brooke Johnson at West Village hotspot Centro Vinoteca, where the rising star briefly ran the kitchen from 2007 to 2008. 'She was already on the map on 'Iron Chef,' on Mario Batali's team, but kind of in the background,' Schrager told the Miami Herald Wednesday. 'I raved about her to Brooke. Anne was bigger than life and the food was extraordinary. From there, things really took off for her and deservedly so.' Soon after that fateful meeting, Burrell left Vinoteca due to 'numerous career commitments and a very busy schedule.' The Upstate New York native went on to host of 'Secrets of a Restaurant Chef' for nine seasons and appeared on multiple hit shows including 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate,' 'Beat Bobby Flay,' 'Chopped' and most recently, 'House of Knives.' 'She was a cooks' cook, a guys' gal, competitive like I have never seen before, a real talented broad, who is gone way way too soon,' Schrager's post continued. 'RIP my friend.' The comments section was full of people who had the pleasure of interacting with Burrell at his annual fest that began in 1997 as the Florida Extravaganza at FIU, to raise funds for the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. 'I'm so shook to my core. I loved chef Anne from the early days. I watched her as sous chef [on] Iron Chef and met her for the first time behind the demo stage at SOBEWFF. I'm truly saddened by this great loss.' 'She was what I looked forward to at SOBE!' And, from the SOBEWFF account: 'Her presence on the sand and beyond will never be forgotten.' Burrell was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' at her Brooklyn home at about 7:50 a.m., according to the New York City Police Department, and pronounced deceased on the scene. A cause of death is pending an autopsy.
Metro
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
TV chef Anne Burrell's death being investigated as 'possible overdose'
Anne Burrell died at the age of 55 after being found unconscious at her New York apartment on Tuesday, and now her suspected cause of death has been revealed. A New York Police Department spokesperson said that the TV personality was found unconscious at her Brooklyn apartment. She was later pronounced dead when the emergency services arrived. Law enforcement also told TMZ that Burrell's husband Stuart Claxton found her unconscious in the bathroom early Tuesday morning having last seen her alive around 1am the night before. He is said to have found her in the shower and called 911. The popular Food Network star's death is now being investigated as a possible drug overdose, according to an internal document viewed by The New York Times. The document said Burrell had been 'discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.' She was pronounced dead the scene. A spokeswoman for the city medical examiner's office said that an autopsy had been completed, but that any findings are still pending. Burrell has been remembered as a 'beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend,' in a statement from her family. '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.' A Food Network spokesperson also commented on the 'tremendous loss'. '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,' the statement read. 'Our thoughts are with Anne's family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.' In 2005, she began her TV career when she joined Mark Ladner for a pilot taping of Food Network's Iron Chef America series. In 2008, she then hosted her own series, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, and in 2009, appeared on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. The star is best known for hosting the Worst Cooks in America show, which began in 2010, and the Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which began in 2012. The Worst Chefs show saw Burrell and Beau MacMillan mentor disastrous home cooks into competent chefs. The show has run for the past 15 years, with 28 seasons and 198 episodes, spawning a celebrity version of the beloved show. The star began her culinary career by working in various restaurants across Italy when she was in her 20s. More Trending Burrell leaves behind her partner, Stuart Claxton, who she married in 2021. The couple met on the dating app Bumble in 2018, and Burrell spoke about loving their relationship. 'I have to say, I love being married,' she told People in April 2023. '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.' View More » A version of this article was first published June 18, 2025. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Truth behind Robert Irwin and Shawn Mendes romance rumours rocking the internet MORE: Friends and Spider-Man star Jack Betts dies aged 96 MORE: Pete Doherty shares statement after Babyshambles guitarist Patrick Walden dies aged 46
