One of Food Network’s most recognizable stars was gone overnight. Now a newly surfaced NYPD report suggests Anne Burrell’s death may have been tied to an overdose.
According to an internal document viewed by The New York Times, the veteran culinary TV personality was found “unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately 100 assorted pills” in the shower of her Brooklyn apartment on the morning of Tuesday, June 17.
Emergency medical workers responded to a 911 call and pronounced her dead at the scene. She was 55.
Anne Burrell dead at 55?? I can't believe it. I absolutely loved Worst Cooks in America. BTB, RTS. Brown food tastes good! Blanch, and shock! Slices, sticks, dices. She taught so many people. pic.twitter.com/h7liGHHNHw
— drnik46 (@drnik46) June 17, 2025The NYPD confirmed they were called to the residence just before 8:00 a.m. about “an unconscious and unresponsive 55-year-old female.” While an autopsy has been completed, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet released the official cause or manner of death.
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Burrell had performed improv the night before at Second City New York, where she had been taking classes. It was her first live performance. The group posted a tribute the next day: “Anne brought joy, boldness, and an unwavering 'yes, and' spirit. Her enthusiasm was contagious, her presence unforgettable.”
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Known for her sharp wit and spiky platinum hair, Burrell had been a fixture on Food Network since the early 2000s. She rose to fame on Iron Chef America as a sous-chef to Mario Batali and later became best known as the host of Worst Cooks in America, which ran for 28 seasons.
In January, fans noticed she wasn’t part of the show’s newest season. When asked on Instagram why she was absent, Burrell replied, “Honestly I don’t know. ??♀️?❤️.”
Friends say she was exploring new creative paths. Chef Elizabeth Falkner, who saw Burrell a week before her death, said the two had recently reconnected. “She seemed really content, like there was a warmer side coming out,” Falkner, 59, told The Times. “When she was leaving she goes, ‘I am so glad we have reconnected. I want to be a better friend.’”
Andrew Zimmern, who worked with Burrell at a food festival in Puerto Rico earlier this year, remembered her as driven and excited about new projects. “She definitely had something cooking,” he said. At the Aspen Food & Wine Festival, Zimmern delivered a tearful tribute, calling her a “brash, bold, loud New Yorker” with “a tremendous capacity for love.”
Public tributes also poured in on social media. Gigi Hadid posted a photo from a past appearance on Beat Bobby Flay, writing, “As a longtime fan, getting to share this day with her was a dream come true.”
Gigi hadid via Anne Burrell's Instagram pic.twitter.com/O0eoxvpchT
— Gigi Hadid Source? (@MyqueengigiIG) October 26, 2019Duff Goldman reflected on their longtime friendship, sharing that he once made her a cake that read, “Don’t let the bastards win.” He added, “She never did.”
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Tyler Florence, Burrell’s Worst Cooks cohost, called her “an incredible Chef” and remembered her signature star tattoos. “She said she loved the night sky. And, how lucky she felt to be a star. She was one of the brightest. There’s a new star in the sky tonight. I see you Anne.”
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The Cook Like a Rock Star author’s family also issued a statement: “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered. 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."
Burrell is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton and her stepson. A memorial service was held at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan on June 20.
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