Food Network Stars and Fellow Chefs Honor Anne Burrell After Her Passing at 55By Nikita Richardson and Sara Bonisteel | June 18, 2025
Tributes are pouring in for Anne Burrell, the beloved chef and television personality, following news of her passing at the age of 55. Her family confirmed her death in a statement Tuesday, and soon after, social media was filled with heartfelt remembrances from fellow chefs, fans, and longtime colleagues.
Burrell was a familiar face to Food Network audiences, first gaining recognition as Mario Batali’s energetic sous-chef on Iron Chef America. She quickly carved out her own niche, launching her solo series Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and later co-hosting Worst Cooks in America, where her humor, energy, and unapologetic personality won her a devoted fanbase. She also made frequent appearances on shows like Chopped, Food Network Star, and House of Knives.
Known for her spiky platinum hair and bold kitchen presence, Burrell was one of the most recognizable figures in the American culinary world—especially within Italian cuisine.
In recent years, Burrell had begun exploring a new passion: comedy. She enrolled in improv classes and even performed in a show at Second City New York just one day before her death. In a March Instagram post, she wrote:
“Can I just say it is so much fun and I am learning so so much!!! It really helps me get out of my shell … as if I needed that!!”
Her friends and collaborators have been quick to honor her vibrant spirit.
Chef Tyler Florence, who worked alongside Burrell on Worst Cooks in America, shared a touching tribute:
“Anne had a collage of star tattoos on her left arm. I asked her what they meant and she said she loved the night sky. And, how lucky she felt to be a star,” he recalled. “She was one of the brightest.”
Burrell's legacy lives on in the countless chefs she inspired, the millions she entertained, and the indelible mark she left on the culinary world.https://t.co/DbZ3zAsItI