Anthony Bourdain, NYC Chef Turned Global Star, Dies at 61

Anthony Bourdain — the globetrotting food TV celebrity who launched into fame following time in NYC kitchens — has died at 61. CNN, the network that produces his show Parts Unknown, announced the news this morning, saying that the cause of death was suicide.

His friend and chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin found him unresponsive in his hotel room in France, where Bourdain was shooting Parts Unknown. CNN released a statement on his death:

It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain. His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time.

Bourdain is now a global celebrity, but his entry into the world of restaurants and food started in New York, where he worked as executive chef of now-shuttered French brasserie Les Halles. While in New York kitchens, Bourdain wrote his best-selling book Kitchen Confidential — work that eventually led to more books and hosting gigs on TV shows like No Reservations and Parts Unknown.

Even as he traveled the world, he still came back here, calling New York City “the greatest city in the world,” and, as recently as this spring, visited iconic restaurants with iconic people for Parts Unknown. For years, he also had a dream of opening a sprawling food hall here, a Singapore-hawker-market-style place that would bring in his favorite foods from around the world. Though most recent plans did not come to fruition, he still talked of wanting to fulfill the vision.

Stay tuned for more.

If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. For international resources, here is a good place to begin.

CNN’s Anthony Bourdain dead at 61 [CNN]