Curious World Staff
Celebrity chef Anne Burrell has died at age 55. Her family confirmed the news Tuesday in a statement to People, calling her “a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend,” and noting that her “warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”
Burrell passed away at her home in Brooklyn. No cause of death was given.
Known for her platinum blond pixie cut and lively on-screen presence, Burrell was a mainstay on Food Network for years. She hosted Worst Cooks in America for all 28 seasons since its 2010 debut and starred in Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which earned an Emmy nomination. She also appeared on Iron Chef America, Chopped, Chef Wanted, and Food Network Star.
Burrell published two cookbooks, Cook Like a Rock Star (a New York Times bestseller) and Own Your Kitchen. Born in 1969 in Cazenovia, NY, she credited her mother and Julia Child as early inspirations. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and worked at top NYC restaurants like Felidia and Savoy.
Beyond television, Burrell was deeply involved in philanthropy. She supported City Harvest, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and served on the Garden of Dreams Foundation Advisory Board.
In 2021, she married Stuart Claxton, with Rachael Ray serving as a bridesmaid. “I was always really focused on my career… then I met Stuart and everything changed,” she said in a 2024 interview.
Burrell is survived by Claxton and his son, Javier; her mother, Marlene; her sister, Jane; and her brother, Ben.
