Anthony Bourdain, Cook Turned Globetrotting Host, Has Died At Age 61

Anthony Bourdain has died. CNN, the network he worked for since 2013, reported that Bourdain was found dead Friday in his hotel room in Strasbourg, France, where he was filming an episode of his travel show Parts Unknown. Bourdain was discovered by his friend, chef Eric Ripert, a frequent cohort on his show. CNN reported the cause of death was suicide.

CNN released a statement:

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.

In 2000, Bourdain published a memoir (born from his 1999 The New Yorker story) that would flip public perception of restaurants. In Kitchen Confidential, Bourdain wrote—in vivid, lurid, page-turning style—of the intense and hazardous culture of working in restaurant kitchens, often manifesting itself in drug use and other self-destructing behavior. The book became a runaway hit, and Bourdain would parlay its success to a career in television—first with the Travel Channel and the highly acclaimed No Reservations, and since 2013, with CNN and Parts Unknown.

As a late-in-life father, Bourdain's "bad boy" image in recent years was replaced with a softer, more paternalistic version. His 2016 cookbook, Appetites, was written through the lens of cooking for his daughter, Ariane. Bourdain told The Takeout in 2016:

I guess my whole life, as much as I might have wanted a child for the reason that everybody wants one, I always recognized that at no point until I was 50 was I old enough or up to the job. I thought, you know what, I not only really want a child, but at this point, finally in my life, I think I'm up to the job and I'm the type of person who could do the job well and I'm financially prepared to look after a child.

Bourdain was 61.

I've just woken to the tragic news about Anthony Bourdain. I always considered him a superhero, and a direct inspiration. In his ground breaking shows, he embodied the spirit of travel, adventure, and strove to make the world a true community. RIP.

— Phil Rosenthal (@PhilRosenthal) June 8, 2018

My heart breaks for Tony Bourdain. May he rest in peace now. He was a friend, a collaborator, and family. A huge personality, a giant talent, a unique voice, and deeply, deeply human. My heart goes out to his daughter and family, and his longtime partners and friends at ZPZ.

— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) June 8, 2018

Stunned and saddened by the loss of Anthony Bourdain. He brought the world into our homes and inspired so many people to explore cultures and cities through their food. Remember that help is a phone call away US:1-800-273-TALK UK: 116 123

— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) June 8, 2018

A piece of my heart is truly broken this morning. And the irony, the sad cruel irony is that the last year he'd never been happier. The rest of my heart aches for the 3 amazing women he left behind.
Tony was a symphony. I wish everyone could have seen all of him. A true friend.

— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) June 8, 2018