Celebrity
Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell Dead At 55—Cause Of Death Confirmed
The final report on the chef’s cause of death was revealed by authorities more than a month after she was discovered dead in her Brooklyn home in June 2025, providing insight into a loss that shocked the food industry.
More than a month after chef and Food Network celebrity Anne Burrell was discovered unconscious in her Brooklyn home, new information has surfaced in the investigation into her death.
The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner formally declared her death to be a suicide on July 24, 2025. The report stated that acute intoxication from a mixture of alcohol, amphetamine, and antihistamines was the reason.
The results support the New York Police Department’s initial concerns that the death on June 17, 2025, was a likely suicide.
Burrell was found at the scene, surrounded by over 100 different tablets, in the shower, unconscious and unresponsive. She was last seen alive at 1 a.m., and her husband, Stuart Claxton, discovered her six to seven hours later.
Claxton thought Burrell had gone into cardiac arrest, so he contacted 911 right away. However, by the time rescuers got there, Burrell’s corpse was already cold, and efforts to resuscitate her failed. Burrell’s widower has refrained from commenting since the official results were made public.
Many people are focusing on Burrell’s life and legacy, both within and beyond the kitchen, as the probe comes to a close. The following retrospective provides a more complete image of the chef that the world came to adore, spanning from her renowned profession in food television to her experiences with love, marriage, and personal transformation.
Many people considered her life, career, and personal achievements in addition to these early stories. These included her ascent in the culinary industry, her union with Claxton, and her continued appearance on television.
Burrell developed a prestigious culinary arts profession, gaining recognition for her abilities and love of cooking. Her most well-known role was presenting the “Food Network” hit show “Worst Cooks in America,” where she served as a mentor to aspiring chefs. She also hosted “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and appeared on the “Iron Chef” series in addition to this program.
Burrell completed her studies and graduated in 1996 from the Culinary Institute of America, where she earned her formal training. She also taught cooking at the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan early in her career.
Burrell and Claxton were wed for over three years. She became the stepmother of his son, Javier, from a prior relationship through this marriage. After Burrell called off a previous engagement, they began dating.
Burrell’s fellow “Food Network” star Ted Allen came out as a lesbian in 2012. Those who knew very little about her personal life were taken aback by this.
According to Burrell’s reps, the culinary community was aware that she had been seeing another chef, Koren Grieveson, for years. The women lived together and were engaged at the time.
When discussing how she organizes her workspace, Burrell said that she enjoys cooking in solitude and that even her fiancé, Grieveson, was not allowed in the kitchen.
Sadly, the pair parted ways, and Burrell set out to find love once more. She created an account on the dating app Bumble, where she eventually met her future husband and fiancé.
According to Burrell, who described the encounter, she and Claxton linked almost instantly. Claxton was unaware that she was a well-known cook. She appeared to be delighted by his forgetfulness, thinking it was beneficial.
Claxton was enamored with his lover’s appearance on their first date. She looked better in person than in pictures, he told Today. Her date was exciting to Burrell as well, and they have remained together ever since.
Claxton and Burrell were placed under quarantine in her birthplace of Cazenovia, New York, when he proposed the momentous question. Claxton first received a wedding ring, but he thought it was fitting to consult Burrell’s mother before making his choice. Therefore, he sought her approval before asking her to assist with the plan.
They furnished his future mother-in-law’s townhouse and opulent apartment, arranging a lovely table and creating an ambiance fit for a romantic evening.
The two didn’t tell Burrell about their painstaking arrangement. After a while, Claxton asked his beloved to join him for supper. The pair was flanked by family members for the event.
Claxton chatted endlessly about their relationship’s history and future over the dinner table, including songs they could play at their wedding. His lover thought this was absurd and thought the topic was unsuitable given the situation—they were among her family.
This didn’t stop Claxton, though. Rather, he shifted the conversation to family and offered to pop the question. The enthusiastic Burrell responded with a loud “yes!”
Burrell never imagined getting married, even though the cookbook author acknowledged that they were a perfect match from the beginning and that she believed the relationship was genuine.
This was because, given her age, Burrell had given up on having a storybook wedding and she had never exchanged wedding vows with anyone.
Therefore, despite falling in love with her ex-fiance, the TV host was more excited about establishing a prosperous career than she was about getting married.
To commemorate the most memorable day of their lives, Burrell and her hubby organized their “magical fairy tale” ceremony a few months after the unexpected proposal.
At Cazenovia’s Windridge Estates Redbarn 20, the couple exchanged vows. Family and friends were invited, and it was a wonderful celebration.
The most stunning woman in the room, Burrell, was dressed in a bridal gown by Caroline Herrera. Her four bridesmaids followed her to the altar as she rode in a horse-drawn carriage.
Her sister and close friends were among the bridesmaids who wore burnt orange “classic fifties-style party dresses,” but her husband chose to have his adolescent son, Javier, serve as his best man.
Burrell made the decision to forego a conventional honeymoon despite the joy that accompanies being a first-time bride.
Claxton looked good in his Nike high-tops and tuxedo, which was designed by Ralph Lauren. According to the renowned chef, she hopes the wedding would be “fun and have a sense of whimsy.”
Burrell’s wedding ceremony featured only the best food. The menu, which featured dishes of delicious short ribs, a pasta dish, and a vegan option, took months to create.
Burrell chose not to have a conventional honeymoon in spite of the excitement that comes with being a first-time bride.
The newlyweds moved into their renovated Brooklyn apartment following their wedding and after-party. The cookbook author acknowledged that she would prefer to be pampered at home rather than go on her honeymoon abroad.
The couple spent their unusual honeymoon at Burrell’s flat, which also features a small living area, dining tables and seats facing the TV, a spot for fresh flowers, and wide windows that provide a lovely view of the skyline.
Now Trending:
- Top Food Network Stars Unite In Heartfelt Tribute To Anne Burrell’s Culinary Legacy
- Anne Burrell’s Final Instagram Moments Surface Days Before Her Sudden Passing
- Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell Celebrated ‘New Life’ Days Before Collapsing At Home
Please SHARE this story with Family and Friends and let us know what you think!
