ANNE BURRELL
On the morning of Tuesday, June 17, Anne Burrell, the adored chef who was well-known for her signature spiky platinum hair, exuberant personality, and culinary prowess, passed away at her Brooklyn, New York, home. Her age was 55. In addition to her mother, Marlene, sister, Jane, children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and brother Ben, she is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, whom she married on October 16, 2021, and his son, Javier. In a statement, her family added, "Anne was a cherished wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered." "Anne's brightness touched millions of people worldwide, reaching well beyond the people she knew. She is no longer with us, but her spirit, warmth, and unending love will always be there.
As the longtime host of Worst Cooks in America, Burrell was a cooking Network darling and a fan favorite. Her love of cooking and mentoring transformed inexperienced kitchen dreamers into skilled cooks. She stood out in the world of food television thanks to her contagious zeal, distinctive laugh, and formidable culinary prowess.
Burrell was born in Cazenovia, New York, on September 21, 1969.
Her mother's homemade meals and TV personality Julia Child served as early inspiration for her passion of cooking. She attended Buffalo's Canisius College to study English and communication before enrolling at the esteemed Culinary Institute of America to pursue a profession in cooking, from which she graduated in 1996.
Due to her passion for Italian food, Burrell attended the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners, where she gained a profound understanding of the principles of Italian cooking through apprenticeships. She worked at renowned restaurants including Savoy in Soho, where she refined her Mediterranean cooking skills, and Felidia under Lidia Bastianich after returning to the Big Apple. Burrell moved into teaching at the Institute of Culinary Education in the early 2000s before eventually landing on television. Burrell initially appeared on Food Network as a sous chef on Iron Chef America. Her own Emmy-nominated program, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, debuted in 2008 and ran for nine seasons as a result of her charm and culinary prowess.
Burrell went on to become a mainstay on the Food Network, making appearances on shows including Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and most recently, the brand-new competition series House of Knives, which debuted in March 2025. She has a strong philanthropic commitment outside of the kitchen. She was a devoted member of City Harvest's Food Council, a celebrity ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and a member of the Garden of Dreams Foundation's advisory board. Burrell famously remarked, "I feel so lucky to be able to share my true passion in life with others,". In April 2023, she told PEOPLE exclusively, "I have to say, I love being married," at City Harvest's 40th Anniversary Gala.
Stuart works from home, so we're always together. Being together all the time is important, but so is going on adventures together.