Food Network star Anne Burrell was found dead at her Brooklyn, New York home on June 17, 2025, at age 55, with law enforcement sources revealing that dozens of pills were discovered near her body. The New York Post reported that sources indicated it remains premature to speculate whether the pills played any role in her death.
Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton, found her unresponsive in their shower shortly before 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning and immediately called 911. According to police reports, Claxton had last seen his wife alive around 1 a.m. the night before her death, meaning approximately six to seven hours passed between when she was last seen alive and when she was discovered.
The Fire Department of New York responded to a report of cardiac arrest at Burrell’s home around 7:50 a.m. Emergency personnel found the patient dead upon arrival at the scene. The 911 operator had advised Claxton to perform CPR, but Burrell’s body was reportedly cold when discovered, and it remains unclear whether CPR was actually performed.
The New York Police Department confirmed that a 55-year-old woman was found unconscious and unresponsive at her home in Brooklyn and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police from the 76th Precinct responded to the emergency call, and authorities have stated they do not believe foul play was involved. The official cause of death remains pending an autopsy with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Hours before her death, Burrell had performed at The Second City NYC in Brooklyn on June 16, making her improv comedy debut. A classmate, Jane Margolis, revealed through social media that she had spent the evening with Burrell, noting that the chef was in great spirits during the performance. Witnesses described Burrell as appearing happy and vibrant during the show, which ended around 1 a.m.
Burrell had announced her improv class participation through Instagram on June 9, expressing enthusiasm about the experience. She had been taking classes at the comedy venue and was completing her term with the live performance. The Second City NYC later paid tribute to Burrell, describing her as a vibrant part of their training center community.
The celebrity chef was best known as the longtime host of Worst Cooks in America on Food Network, where her passionate teaching style and distinctive spiky platinum hair made her a fan favorite. Born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, New York, Burrell graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and worked at acclaimed restaurants including Felidia under Lidia Bastianich.
Her television career began as a sous chef on Iron Chef America before launching her own Emmy-nominated show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which ran for nine seasons. She also appeared regularly on Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and most recently on House of Knives, which premiered in March 2025. Burrell authored two cookbooks, including the New York Times bestseller Cook Like a Rock Star in 2011.
Burrell married Stuart Claxton on October 16, 2021, in a fall-themed ceremony in her hometown. The couple had met on the dating app Bumble in 2018. Close friend and fellow Food Network personality Rachael Ray served as a bridesmaid at the wedding and expressed being heartbroken by the news of Burrell’s death.
Ray described Burrell as a strong, vibrant, fearless woman who was full of life and love. She recalled working with Burrell on multiple seasons of Worst Cooks and noted that despite being surrounded by incredible chefs, Burrell never made her feel self-conscious about not being a trained chef. Ray stated that “Anne honored me by asking me to be her bridesmaid.”
Burrell’s family released a statement describing her as a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother and friend whose smile lit up every room she entered. They indicated that her light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world, and that her warmth, spirit and boundless love remain eternal.
She is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton and his son Javier, her mother Marlene, sister Jane, brother Ben, and Jane’s children Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas. Food Network released a statement calling Burrell a remarkable person and culinary talent who always shared the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring.
A neighbor, Cyrus Summerlin, remembered Burrell for her kindness, noting that she regularly brought meals to the building’s door staff. Fellow chefs including Bobby Flay, Carla Hall, and model Gigi Hadid, who appeared with Burrell on Beat Bobby Flay in 2023, have offered tributes to the Food Network star.
Burrell’s final Instagram post was shared on June 12, five days before her death, featuring a photo with Elizabeth Eaton Rosenthal, known as the Green Lady of Brooklyn. The investigation into her death continues as authorities await the medical examiner’s official determination of the cause of death.
