In a startling revelation, an investigator came across a ‘suicidal note’ and diary entries hinting at suicidal thoughts in Anne Burrell’s room, following her unexpected passing at the age of 55 last year.
Her husband, Stuart Claxton, tragically found her lifeless at their Brooklyn residence on June 17, 2025. Her death was subsequently determined to be a suicide the following month.
The New York City medical examiner’s office cited ‘acute intoxication’ as the cause, resulting from the ‘combined effects’ of amphetamine, alcohol, and the antihistamines diphenhydramine and cetirizine.
A recent report from the New York City Police Department revealed that the ‘suicidal’ letter was located in the master bedroom, where a journal filled with similar entries was placed on the bed, as reported by People.
The document noted that a person ‘married to Anne’—whose name was withheld—told police that Burrell had never attempted suicide before, nor had she spoken about it or shown any indications that she might take such an action.
Anne Burrell was cherished by Food Network enthusiasts as the host of Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and as a co-host on Worst Cooks in America.
An investigator discovered a ‘suicidal note’ and ‘suicidal’ diary entries in Anne Burrell’s bedroom after her shock death last year aged 55; pictured 2019
Early in the morning when Burrell was found dead, her husband had ‘noticed that the bed was made in their room which is not normal,’ per the new police report.
Claxton then discovered her on the bathroom floor ‘with a bunch of over the counter pills on the floor,’ whereupon he began ‘shaking her and slapping her face’ in a bid to wake her up and then dialed 911 when his efforts failed.
NYPD documents indicated that there were ‘approximately (100) assorted pills’ around her body when she was found, according to the New York Times.
She was reportedly pronounced dead on the scene after an EMS crew tried to perform CPR on her but was unsuccessful in the attempt to revive her.
Claxton – who married Burrell in October 2021 in her hometown in upstate New York – is said to have last seen her alive at around 1:00am on June 17 last year, six to seven hours before he came upon her unresponsive in the bathroom.
The evening before she died she had performed in an improv show at a Brooklyn comedy club, having taken classes at its training center.
‘I just started taking acting classes,’ she remarked that March on Tori Spelling’s podcast. ‘I started yesterday, actually… It’s like an improv for actors’ class.’
She shared that there were ‘like eight people in the class. I’m the oldest one. Every other person has like: “Oh, I have a master’s in fine arts in theater.”‘
Her body was discovered on her bathroom floor by her husband Stuart Claxton (right), whom she married in October 2021 in her hometown in upstate New York
Worst Cooks in the World returned to the Food Network last month for its first episodes since Burrell died, leaving fans bereft; she is pictured on the series in 2021
Burrell joked: ‘I wonder if these delightful and super talented kids look at me and they’re like: “What’s this old lady doing here?”‘
At that point she had recently shocked fans by announcing a hiatus from Worst Cooks in America after season 28, which aired from January to February last year.
‘I can cook, yes, I can do TV, but also, what else? I’ve got more to do in my life, I feel like,’ she told Spelling, clarifying she was only ‘dipping her toe’ into acting.
‘I feel very excited about it. I’ve got a few other things that I’m working on as well, which I’m not quite ready to share yet. Hopefully, exciting things [are] coming.’
Her shattered family reacted to the news of her death with a statement saying that ‘her smile lit up every room she entered’ and that her ‘light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world.’
Worst Cooks in the World returned to the Food Network last month for its first episodes since Burrell died, leaving fans bereft.
Burrell had won the loyalty of audiences with her long run on the show, after developing her expertise in Mediterranean cuisine by working as a chef at a string of New York hot spots including Felidia and Savoy.
Her interest in cooking was born when she was a little girl, thanks in part to the influence of another popular TV chef, Julia Child.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.
