Anne Burrell, the beloved Food Network star best known for hosting Worst Cooks in America, died by suicide on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, at her home in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 55.
The New York City medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine—substances that include antihistamines, alcohol, and medication typically used to treat ADHD.
On June 18, the NYPD reported that Burrell had been found unconscious and unresponsive, with EMS pronouncing her dead at the scene. According to a police document obtained by The New York Times, she was discovered in the shower surrounded by about 100 assorted pills. A 911 call placed at 7:50 a.m. indicated possible cardiac arrest.
Her family, who declined to comment further, shared a heartfelt statement remembering Anne as a radiant presence whose light touched millions beyond her immediate circle. Born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, New York, Burrell’s passion for cooking was inspired early by her mother’s homemade meals and television icon Julia Child. After studying English and Communication at Canisius College, she pursued her culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America, graduating in 1996.
She later taught at the Institute of Culinary Education before breaking into television. She first appeared as a sous chef on Iron Chef America, eventually earning her own Emmy-nominated show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which aired for nine seasons starting in 2008. She became a regular face on Food Network, participating in shows like Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and most recently House of Knives, which premiered in March 2025.
She also authored two cookbooks—Cook Like a Rock Star in 2011, a New York Times bestseller, and Own Your Kitchen in 2013. Anne met her husband, Stuart Claxton, on Bumble in 2018, and the couple married in October 2021.
The night before her death, she performed her final show with a Brooklyn improv troupe, where she was described as joyful and hilarious, fully immersed in the moment. She is survived by Claxton and his son Javier, her mother Marlene, sister Jane, her children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and her brother Ben.