The longtime mentor of the amateur cooking show died by suicide at 55 on June 17. Food Network pays tribute to late star Anne Burrell in season premiere of Wors

The longtime mentor of the amateur cooking show died by suicide at 55 on June 17.

Food Network pays tribute to late star Anne Burrell in season premiere of *Worst Cooks in America *

The longtime mentor of the amateur cooking show died by suicide at 55 on June 17.

By Shania Russell

Published on July 29, 2025 02:52PM EDT

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Anne Burrell on 'Worst Cooks in America'. Credit:

Ana Blumenkron/Food Network

Food Network paid tribute to Anne Burrell during Monday's season premiere of *Worst Cooks in America*.

The season 29 premiere kicked off Burrell's final season as a mentor on the show, just a month after the celebrity chef was found dead in her Brooklyn, N.Y. home at 55.

The episode concluded with a dedication to the late reality star, showing a smiling photo of her with the words: "In Memoriam, Anne Burrell, 1969-2025." Viewers were then directed to a crisis hotline message that read, "If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline."

This will not be the last time that *Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible* honors Burrell, as Food Network previously told PEOPLE that "the series will pay tribute to Anne each week."

Anne Burrell with recruit Kyle Torrence on 'Worst Cooks in America' season 29.

Ana Blumenkron/Food Network

Burrell died on June 17 after being found "unconscious and unresponsive" in her home, where EMS later pronounced her deceased at the scene. A subsequent report from the *New York Times *cited an overdose, stating that Burrell was discovered unresponsive in the shower, where she was "surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills."

The New York City Medical Examiner concluded its investigation last week, ruling Burrell's death a suicide. Her cause of death is specified as "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine."

Anne Burrell was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' at scene of death

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Following news of her death, a representative for the Food Network told EW, "Anne was 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. Our thoughts are with Anne's family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss."

The latest season of *Worst Cooks in America* sees Burrell face off against Italian chef Gabe Bertaccini, a first-time boot camp mentor, to help finesse some truly terrible amateur cooks into capable chefs. Bertaccini recently opened up about what the show meant to Burrell, telling PEOPLE, "She wasn't there for the paycheck."

Anne Burrell in 'Worst Cooks in America'.

He continued, "One thing that I have to say — the love, the authentic love that she had for the contestants, for the cooks, the love that she had to really teach them. She was there to teach them how to cook, it wasn't just a show."

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Burrell served as a mentor on *Worst Cooks in America *for 27 seasons. Prior to that, she trained as a chef in Asti, Italy, before returning to her home state of New York, where she worked in renowned restaurants, including Felidia and Savoy. Burrell also hosted and competed on several other* *Food Network shows, from *Beat Bobby Flay *to *The Next Iron Chef,* and hosted her own show, *Secrets of a Restaurant Chef*, for nine seasons.

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