|
Play the Latest Hits
on Amazon Music Unlimited (ad)
|
|
More than a month after celebrity chef Anne Burrell was found unresponsive in her New York home, her official cause of death has been revealed.
Anne Burrell, beloved chef and longtime host of the Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, died Tuesday, June 17, at the age of 55.
Her family issued a statement through a representative confirming the news, saying:
“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,” her family said, according to PEOPLE. “Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”

Authorities shared that they had responded to a call to Burrell’s residence around 7:50 a.m. and found the chef “unconscious and unresponsive.” She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
PEOPLE obtained an audio recording of the 911 placed from Burrell’s home. The caller indicated that Anne may have suffered cardiac arrest, but the official cause of death was unknown until an autopsy was completed.
Anne Burrell’s Official Cause of Death
On July 24, New York City’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shared details of Burrell’s completed autopsy. The exam revealed that the chef had died of suicide due to “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.”
Other Celebrity Chefs Who Have Died In Recent Years
Anne Burrell’s death was a shocking blow to the food community, and the latest in a string of tragedies to strike the foodie world.
Other celebrity chef deaths include:
Carl Ruiz – Ruiz died peacefully in his sleep in 2019. The chef suffered from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. At the time of his death, he served as the executive chef of La Cubana in New York City. He rose to fame on the Food Network with appearances on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and other spinoffs. He was 44.
Anthony Bourdain – Bourdain took his own life in 2018. The chef-turned-television host had an illustrious career that allowed him to bring his extensive knowledge of cuisine to books, documentaries, adventure shows, news programs, cooking competitions, and more.
Fatima Ali – The 29-year-old Top Chef contestant died of cancer in 2019. Ali was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma after filming for Top Chef concluded in 2017. The fan-voted favorite won two James Beard Foundation awards for excellence in food writing following her death. I’m a Chef with Terminal Cancer and This Is What I’m Doing with the Time I Have Left were published prior to her death and were posthumously honored with James Beard awards.