Update-
Anne Burrell may have suffered cardiac arrest before her sudden passing.
According to a New York City Fire Department spokesperson, a 911 caller reported that the Food Network star had gone into cardiac arrest and was “DOA” (dead on arrival), Page Six reported Wednesday.
The beloved chef died at her home in Brooklyn, N.Y., on the morning of Tuesday, June 17. She was 55. Her representatives confirmed the news in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
The NYPD confirmed that Anne Burrell was found “unconscious and unresponsive” and was pronounced dead at the scene. Around 7:50 a.m., officers from the 76th Precinct responded to a call about a 55-year-old woman who was unresponsive. EMS arrived and confirmed she had died at the scene.
Her cause of death has not yet been determined. An autopsy will be performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Anne Burrell was enjoying her new passion for improv comedy just hours before she passed away.
The night before, on Monday, June 16, Burrell performed in an improv show at The Second City New York. It was the final performance of her improv class, as she shared on Instagram.
“Everyone said she was so great last night and so happy,” a source reported to PEOPLE.
A source who was with Anne at the improv show said she “was in great spirits” during and after the performance. “It was typical, fun, outgoing Anne, having a blast,” the source shared.
Everyone is “shocked and confused,” as she seemed completely fine when the show ended, the source told PEOPLE.
Anne W. Burrell (September 21, 1969 – June 17, 2025) was a popular American chef, TV personality, and cookbook author. Born in Cazenovia, New York, she first studied English and Communication at Canisius College before attending the Culinary Institute of America. She later continued her culinary training in Italy.
Burrell began her career in top New York City kitchens, including Felidia and Savoy, and also taught at the Institute of Culinary Education. She gained national attention as a sous-chef on Iron Chef America, and soon became a fan favorite as host of Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and co-host of Worst Cooks in America, which ran for 27 seasons. Her fun, high-energy style and signature spiky blond hair made her one of the most recognizable faces on the Food Network.
She also appeared on other popular shows like Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and the 2025 cooking competition House of Knives. Burrell wrote two successful cookbooks: Cook Like a Rock Star and Own Your Kitchen.
She is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, whom she married on October 16, 2021, and his son, Javier. She is also survived by her mother, Marlene; her sister, Jane, and Jane’s children, Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas; and her brother, Ben.
