A cardiac arrest was reported at celebrity chef Anne Burrell’s home on Tuesday, the New York City Fire Department said.
The beloved culinary star and host of “Worst Cooks in America” died Tuesday at her home in Brooklyn, her team confirmed to NBC News.
Her cause of death is pending autopsy.
But the New York City Fire Department said, without identifying Burrell, that the agency responded to Burrell’s home at 7:50 a.m. on a report of cardiac arrest and that the person was declared dead upon arrival.
Cardiac arrest is the loss of all heart activity due to irregular heart rhythm and results in stopped breathing and unconsciousness. Without treatment it can cause death, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The New York City Police Department also confirmed a 55-year-old woman was found “unconscious and unresponsive” at the home and pronounced dead at the scene.
Burrell was remembered for her “trademark spiky blonde hair,” “sparkling personality,” and as a “fan favorite host” of the Food Network’s hit show “Worst Cooks in America,” her team said in a statement.
“Burrell was an industry veteran and passionate teacher who prided herself on her work in the culinary world,” the statement continued.
Burrell’s love for food began at an early age while watching Julia Child and her mother in the kitchen. She honed her skills studying at the Culinary Institute of America, spent a year attending the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners, and worked in iconic restaurant kitchens in New York.
She eventually became a teacher at the Institute of Culinary Education, and later started her TV career, appearing as a sous chef on “Iron Chef America” and eventually was offered her own show, “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,” which aired from 2008 until 2012.
Burrell also appeared regularly on “Chef Wanted,” “Chopped,” “Food Network Star” and others programs before she began hosting “Worst Cooks in America” in 2010. She also penned two bestselling cookbooks, “Cook Like a Rock Star” and “Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower.”
“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered. 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,” Burrell’s family said in a statement.
She is survived by her husband Stuart and his son Javier, her mother Marlene and sister Jane and her children Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas, and her brother Ben.
