New details have come to light surrounding the passing of Food Network star Anne Burrell last year at age 55.
The celebrity chef was found unresponsive by her husband at their Brooklyn home on June 17.
In a statement, her family described her as a “beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend” whose smile “lit up every room she entered.”
RELATED:HighlightsA police report obtained by ‘People’ provides more information about celebrity chef Anne Burrell, who took her own life last June.The Food Network star, 55, was found unconscious in the bathroom of her Brooklyn, NY, home.Anne was known for ‘Worst Cooks In America,’ ‘Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,’ and ‘Iron Chef,’ among other cooking shows.Celebrated chef Anne Burrell was found lifeless at her home in June 2025
Trigger warning: This article includes mentions of self-harm that may be distressing to some readers.
“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,” her family wrote.
Her passing was initially investigated by the New York Police Department as a possible overd*se, as she was found “surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.”
A month later, after conducting an autopsy, the New York City medical examiner’s office determined that Anne had taken her own life.
The official cause was specified as “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.”
Anne was found unresponsive by her husband on the bathroom floor, surrounded by numerous pills
The husband immediately called 911 after attempting to wake her by “shaking her and slapping her face,” according to the police report. Paramedics pronounced her “deceased on scene.”
Hours before taking her life, the Food Network star had performed at an improv comedy club
Another friend told Page Six that they felt like the chef “struggled” and “wasn’t totally happy” despite her multiple projects and upbeat personality.
The friend said Anne suffered from loneliness and fears of substance dependency after growing up “in a situation with alc*holism.”
“She had, like the rest of us, demons. She didn’t let me in too much. [As a TV star] you have so many high moments. In private, you’re going to have a let down,” they said.
Anne appeared on shows including Worst Cooks in America, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, and Chef Wanted
A Food Network spokesperson remembered Anne as a “a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing, and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring.”
The renowned chef is survived by Stuart and his son, Javier, her mother, Marlene, her sister, Jane, Jane’s children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and her brother, Ben.
The National S*icide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. International helplines can be found at befrienders.org
Fans mourned the loss of the celebrity chef and Food Network icon
