Anne Burrell’s ill-fated plans for her future revealed after ditching hit show before tragic death
After departing from her popular show “Worst Cooks In America,” Anne Burrell made adjustments to her professional path, as the inquiry into her unexpected passing has taken an unexpected turn.
The renowned culinary expert, best known for hosting Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and co-hosting Worst Cooks in America, harbored aspirations beyond the kitchen. She aimed to venture into acting and enrolled in improvisation classes, tragically passing away at the age of 55 before realizing those dreams.
In March, she made an appearance on Tori Spelling’s Podcast titled “Misspelling.” During the show, she mentioned that: ‘Intriguingly, I recently began attending acting workshops. To be precise, I started yesterday… It turns out to be a form of improvisation for actors.’
Upon arrival, I found myself in a classroom with about eight individuals present. Among us, I am the eldest. Each of the others seems to boast a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, specializing in Theater.
In a playful manner, Burrell displayed both her self-awareness and her well-known wit by jesting about the differences in age between her and her peers.
She said: ‘I’m like, “okay, I’ve never taken an acting class. I don’t know, this is new to me.”
I sometimes ponder if these charming and exceptionally skilled children might think, “What on earth is this elderly woman doing among us?
For season 28, the TV host decided to step away from her popular series “Worst Cooks in America,” a move that left numerous viewers puzzled. At the time, she was questioned about the reasons behind this choice, with Spelling being 52 years old at the moment.
Burrell responded: “Yes, I can cook and handle TV work, but there’s more to me. I have other things I want to accomplish in my life.
She also admitted that she was just ‘dipping my toe’ when it came to the pivot to acting.
As a lifestyle enthusiast, let me express my enthusiasm about this intriguing project. While I’m juggling several other projects at the moment, I can hardly wait to reveal more details soon. Fingers crossed, there are some truly exhilarating developments on the horizon!
This announcement follows the revelation that the probe into her unexpected death has taken an unexpected turn, with chilling fresh details surfacing concerning the location where the chef was discovered deceased on Tuesday.
The beloved Food Network star died at age 55 at her Brooklyn, New York apartment.
According to reports from law enforcement, it appears that a significant number of unidentified pills were discovered near where Mr. Burrell passed away. Another source mentioned that there were approximately several dozen pills found at the scene, as reported by The Post.
On Tuesday morning, it was discovered that Burrell was unconscious and lying on the bathroom floor near the shower by her spouse, Stuart Claxton, who is an insider.
According to reports, Claxton is said to have seen his wife alive around 1AM the previous night. He found her unconscious in their bathroom about 6-7 hours later.
We’ve reached out to both Food Network and Burrell for their comments, but we haven’t received a response yet.
Claxton contacted 911 and was allegedly advised by the operator to perform CPR on Burrell.
However, her body was said to be cold and it is not known if he performed CPR.
Based on the 911 call, it appears there was a suspected heart attack incident reported at 7:50 am on Tuesday. The New York Fire Department has confirmed this information to Daily Mail.
Officers from the NYPD responded to a call in Brooklyn regarding a 55-year-old woman who was unconscious and unresponsive. Upon arrival, they discovered her in this state at her home. (Daily Mail statement)
At the location itself, it was confirmed that the woman had passed away. The exact reason for her death remains undisclosed as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner continues its inquiry.
TMZ reports that EMS attempted CPR on Burrell but could not resuscitate her.
Meanwhile many of Burrell’s fellow Food Network personalities have paid tribute to her.
Recently, Andrew Zimmern delivered an emotional talk about his friend during the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen on Thursday night.
As a passionate devotee putting words to my feelings, I can’t help but express the deep sorrow that has gripped us all upon learning of Anne’s untimely passing this week. We, her devoted community, are more than heartbroken.
He praised her as an exceptionally beautiful and talented spirit, also acknowledging her groundbreaking achievements on the Food Network.
Zimmern portrayed his friend as a confident, outspoken New Yorker, and someone with an immense ability to give and receive love.
1. He additionally portrayed her as being ‘taken away from us at the height of life’s bloom’, and conceded that coping with her passing has been ‘extremely challenging’.
2. He also characterized her as being ‘snatched away before her time’, and acknowledged that handling her demise has become ‘incredibly tough.’
3. He also depicted her as being ‘taken from us at the peak of life’, and admitted that confronting her death has become ‘extremely hard’.
4. He also presented her as being ‘unjustly taken away from us in the prime of life’, and conceded that dealing with her passing has been ‘exceptionally difficult.’
5. He also painted her as being ‘taken from us at the pinnacle of life’, and admitted that managing her death has become ‘extraordinarily challenging’.
Zimmern went on to plea with those on hand to care for others in the food community.
In my perspective as a lifestyle expert, I must commend this community for the immense significance they place on mutual care and support. Over the past decade, their dedication has truly shone brightly in the way they have nurtured and uplifted each other.
I haven’t found another group quite as dedicated to caring for one another as ours, yet I feel we could be more proactive. The loss of someone like Anne makes me question if we’re truly giving our all.
As a lifestyle enthusiast, I wholeheartedly encourage you all to seize the moment, immerse yourselves in joyful activities such as laughter, feasting, socializing over beverages, dancing, and perhaps even belting out tunes at a karaoke session – just as our cherished friend Burrell would have wanted us to. Let’s celebrate life together!
According to a statement acquired by DailyMail.com on Tuesday, Anne was adored as a wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend; her smile made every place she stepped into feel brighter, the family added.
In a heartfelt manner, it was expressed that Anne’s brightness extended past her acquaintances, affecting countless individuals worldwide. Although she is now gone, her tender feelings, vibrant essence, and endless love continue to endure eternally.
A representative from Food Network commented, “Anne was an extraordinary individual with exceptional culinary skills – she taught, competed, and consistently emphasized the role of food in her life, as well as the delight that a scrumptious meal could offer.
‘Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.’
The renowned TV chef, known for her distinctive platinum spikes, is mourned by her husband Stuart Claxton, who she married in a fall-themed wedding and reception held in her native town of Cazenovia, New York, just last October.
Besides her, there are several other family members who carry on living – her mom Marlene, her sibling Jane, and her kids Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, as well as her brother Ben.
At an early stage in her life, Anne cultivated a deep love for cooking, fueled by her mother’s homemade dishes and the culinary demonstrations of TV personality Julia Child.
After completing her studies in English and Communications at Canisius College, Buffalo, in 1991, she pursued her passion for cooking by attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, where she graduated in 1996.
She had the opportunity to work at several popular restaurants in New York City, such as Felidia and Savoy in Soho, which helped her perfect her skills in Mediterranean cooking.
Later on, she found herself in the public eye and gained significant recognition as the long-term presenter of Worst Cooks in America.
Over the course of 28 seasons, this popular show featured acclaimed chefs guiding aspiring home cooks, with the goal of turning them into seasoned professionals in the kitchen.
In other venues, she’s showcased her culinary skills on Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and more recently, the cooking contest series House of Knives, debuting in March of this year.
The well-known culinary expert has authored not one but two recipe books under her name – “Cook Like a Rock Star” and “Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Motivate and Build Confidence.”
This version maintains the original meaning while using more conversational language that is easy for readers to understand.
Devastated followers have been pouring in to comment on her latest Instagram post, which she published merely four days back.
As a lifestyle enthusiast, I was deeply taken aback by this heartbreaking news. Chef Anne, your vibrancy, humor, and zest for life were truly extraordinary, and you reminded me of my dear mother. My deepest condolences are extended to you and your loved ones during this difficult time. May you find peace in the company of angels and continue to inspire us with your culinary magic from above.
‘Prayers for your family. This feels so unexpected!
From the start, you stood out as one of our cherished chefs, and it was clear that you were an exceptional individual. It’s likely that a lot of people will miss you dearly.
‘RIP ANNE! I can’t believe this! We lost a good one!’ one wrote.
For quite some time now, I’ve been an ardent admirer of yours. In fact, I’ve been faithfully following Worst Cooks for years, and more recently, I’ve been catching up on the latest episodes as well.
‘I am so sad. May you rest in peace,’ another penned.
Gigi Hadid, well-known for her appearance on the show Beat Bobby Flay alongside Burrell, took the lead among celebrities in publicly displaying their sorrow following Burrell’s passing.
‘I am heartbroken to hear of the loss of the Great Anne Burrell,’ the supermodel, 30, began.
Hadid included a photo of herself and Burrell from their time filming Beat Bobby Flay back in 2023.
As a devoted admirer for quite some time, it was a heartfelt wish fulfilled to spend this special day with her. Not only did I get the chance to beat Bobby, but also share moments and enjoy a meal together.
‘I wish we could have done it again. She was awesome. Rest in Peace Legend.’
Chef Carla Hall, a former contestant on Food Network’s Top Chef, described Burrell as an ‘exceptionally skilled chef and educator.’
Carson Kressley, famously known from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, shared that he had conversations with Burrell not long before she passed away.
He also shared a post to his own Instagram page which included a photo of him and Burrell.
‘Take it easy, Chef Anne. It’s an immense blessing to have worked with you, learned from you, and shared laughter with you. The moments we spent together, both on camera and off, are memories I hold dear. This photo of us enjoying ourselves is one I value greatly, a testament to our best times together.’
Kressley expressed.
One of my most cherished moments is immersing myself in the ocean following a delightful meal. The combination of delicious food, wonderful companionship, and an abundance of love, laughter, and joy truly makes it unforgettable.
‘That’s what I wish for you where you are now . I’ll see you again someday, dear friend.’
In summary, Kressley shared that Anne had a particular fondness for this photograph of us, which tells me she would have been pleased with my choice of using it as the tribute image.
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2025-06-20 23:36