Anne Burrell, American chef and television host. She is smiling and talking into a microphone, wearing a green blouse with white polka dots.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the culinary world lost a legend. Anne Burrell, beloved celebrity chef and Food Network icon, passed away at her Brooklyn home at the age of 55 after being found unresponsive early that morning.

Born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, New York, Anne cultivated her love of cooking alongside her mother. She earned a BA in English and Communications from Canisius College (1991) before attending the Culinary Institute of America (graduating in 1996) and studying in Italy’s Piedmont region. Returning to New York, she sharpened her skills under Lidia Bastianich at Felidia and took leadership roles at Savoy, Lumi, and Centro Vinoteca. She later became an instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.

Her charismatic presence first lit up screens as host of Secrets of a Restaurant Chef (2008–2012), a nine-season series aimed at demystifying restaurant-quality cooking for home chefs. In 2010, she co-created Worst Cooks in America, mentoring the Blue Team across 27 seasons through 2024. Her tough-love, motivational approach made her a mentor and a friend to countless contestants. She also appeared on Iron Chef America as Mario Batali’s sous chef, judged on Chopped and Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell, and triumphed in Chopped All-Stars in 2015, raising $75,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Anne was known for her trademark spiky blonde hair, energetic demeanor, and memorable catchphrases like “Brown food tastes good!” Off-screen, she was an advocate for better food in nursing homes and pursued a passion for improv comedy—having performed just the night before her passing.

She is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton (married 2021); his son, Javier; her mother, Marlene; siblings Jane and Ben; and extended family. Colleagues, including Rachael Ray, Alex Guarnaschelli, Robert Irvine, and Bobby Flay, paid tribute to her warmth, mentorship, and boundless spirit.

Anne’s legacy lives on through the skills she taught, the laughter she shared, and the confidence she inspired in home cooks everywhere. Her impact on the culinary community will be felt for generations to come.


Featured Image Source: “Anne Burrell”, by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, Resized from original

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