Anne Burrell, cherished Food Network personality and longtime host of Worst Cooks in America, passed away Tuesday morning, June 17, at her Brooklyn, New York residence. She was 55 years old.
At around 7:50 a.m., officers from the New York City Police Department responded to a call about a 55-year-old woman who was unconscious and unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after and pronounced Burrell deceased at the scene. The official cause of death is awaiting the results of an autopsy by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Burrell’s family released a statement confirming her passing, honoring her as a devoted wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend. They remembered that “her smile brightened every room” and noted how her warmth and spirit touched not only those close to her but millions around the globe.
Just the night before her death, Burrell performed at The Second City New York in Brooklyn, taking part in the final show following her improv classes, which she had been attending since March 2025. Sources connected to the event said that she was in high spirits throughout the evening and seemed happy and energetic after the performance.
Burrell had been enthusiastic about improv, regularly sharing her experiences from the classes on social media. She had described the training as incredibly fun and said it encouraged her to break out of her comfort zone. The Second City New York training center posted a tribute to her, highlighting the joy, courage, and positivity she brought to their community.
A native of Cazenovia, New York, Burrell launched her career in the food world after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996. She continued her culinary education at the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners, where she completed an apprenticeship at La Bottega del ‘30, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Umbria, Italy. Upon returning to New York, she honed her craft at prestigious restaurants before moving into television.
Burrell’s TV journey began in 2005 as a sous chef on Iron Chef America, quickly winning over viewers. She remained with the series for ten seasons, through 2013. Her major breakthrough came with her own Food Network show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which aired from 2008 to 2012 and earned two Emmy nominations in 2011.
She gained widespread recognition hosting Worst Cooks in America from 2010 to 2024, guiding novices through intense cooking challenges. Burrell also fronted Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell from 2012 to 2013 and was a frequent judge on Chopped from 2011 through 2016.
Most recently, Burrell appeared on Food Network’s House of Knives, which debuted in March 2025. Her final TODAY show appearance was on April 9, 2025, where she demonstrated how to make chicken Milanese and expressed her excitement for the new competition series, calling the opportunity fun and praising the talented chefs alongside her.
Outside of television, Burrell authored two bestselling cookbooks: Cook Like a Rock Star in 2011, which reached the New York Times bestseller list, and Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower. She also contributed as an advisory board member for the Garden of Dreams Foundation and acted as a celebrity ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Burrell’s cooking philosophy centered on joy and inclusivity. She often spoke about how food reflects the emotions of the chef and emphasized infusing joy into every dish. Her mission was to banish fear from the kitchen, especially for beginners, and cultivate an atmosphere of fun.
In her personal life, Burrell married Stuart Claxton in October 2021 after the two connected on Bumble in 2018. In interviews, she expressed joy in their marriage, noting how much time they shared together thanks to Claxton’s remote work, and cherished both their daily companionship and shared adventures.
Burrell leaves behind her husband Stuart Claxton and his son Javier, her mother Marlene, her sister Jane, brother Ben, and her children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas. Food Network paid tribute, calling her an extraordinary individual and culinary talent who always shared the joy and meaning that food can bring.
The network extended its condolences to Burrell’s loved ones and fans during this period of tremendous loss. TMZ reported that the 911 caller stated Burrell had suffered cardiac arrest, though the official cause of death has not yet been confirmed pending autopsy results.