What happened to Anne Burrell? Celebrity chef's cause of death revealed 5 weeks after death at 55

Anne Burrell, the celebrity chef from Food Network, passed away at her residence in Brooklyn on June 17, 2025. She was 55 years old. According to ABC News, someone found her in the shower, unresponsive, after which they called 911. However, she could not be revived. At first, officials said it looked like a cardiac arrest. On July 25, it was reportedly confirmed that she died by suicide.

Anne Burrell died by suicide from mixed drug overdose, officials confirm

It's been over five weeks since Anne Burrell was found 'unresponsive' at her Brooklyn home. Now, the City of New York's Office of Chief Medical Examiner has finished its review. On Thursday, they said the cause of death was suicide.

Burrell died from what the examiner called acute intoxication - caused by a combination of several substances, including diphenhydramine, amphetamine, cetirizine, and ethanol. 

More than 100 pills were said to have been found near Anne Burrell’s body inside the bathroom, according to early details shared following the incident. The local fire department also confirmed that emergency personnel had responded to her address that same morning. This information was first reported by NBC, though officials have not provided further public comment regarding the items found at the scene.

From Food Network fame to bestselling author, Anne Burrell leaves behind a rich culinary legacy

Anne Burrell was born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, New York. Her interest in food started early - some say it came from watching her mom cook. She was also known to admire Julia Child. Before turning to cooking, she studied English and Communication at Canisius College. She later enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America and graduated in 1996.

Her first major TV role was as a sous chef on Iron Chef America. Not long after, in 2008, she got her own show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which lasted nine seasons. By 2010, she began co-hosting Worst Cooks in America, one of Food Network’s most popular long-running series. She also appeared on other programs like Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and, most recently, House of Knives (2025). In addition to her television work, Burrell wrote two cookbooks, one of which became a New York Times Bestseller.

She is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, and his son, Javier; her mother, Marlene; her sister Jane, and Jane’s children - Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, as well as her brother, Ben.