Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell died by suicide on June 17th in her Brooklyn home at age 55.
PEOPLE confirmed Chef Anne’s cause of death from five weeks ago.
Reports from NYC’s medical examiner’s office:
Anne Burrell’s cause of death was described as “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.”
“Diphenhydramine and cetirizine are antihistamines, ethanol is a compound found in alcohol, and amphetamine is commonly used to treat ADHD.”
She is survived by Claxton and his son, Javier, as well as her mother, Marlene, and sister, Jane, her children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and her brother Ben.
All About Anne:
“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,” her family said in a statement. “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.”
She is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, his son, her mother, sister, brother, and three children. Anne and Stuart met on Bumble in 2018.
“I have to say, I love being married. We’re together all the time because Stuart works from home. It’s the being together all the time, but it’s also the adventure together.”
Anne’s career:
Food Network audiences first met Anne as a sous chef on Iron Chef America. Her charisma and culinary chops led to her own Emmy-nominated show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which premiered in 2008 and ran for nine seasons.
From there, Chef Anne became Food Network staple, also appearing on Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star.
Also, Anne was best known as the longtime host of Worst Cooks in America. Her passion for food and mentorship turned disastrous kitchen hopefuls into capable cooks.
Most recently, Anne was on the competition series House of Knives, which premiered in March 2025.
