Just hours before her sudden passing, Anne Burrell was reportedly in “great spirits” and “so happy,” according to someone who attended her Monday night improv performance at Second City. The beloved Food Network star had been taking classes there for several months and even joined the cast onstage that evening—making the news of her death all the more heartbreaking and surreal for those who saw her light up the room one final time.

Anne Burrell Performed At Improv Show The Night Before Her Passing

Anne Burrell posing with her Second City classmates (Photo Credit: Anne Burrell / Instagram, Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)

Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell Passed Away On Tuesday (June 17)

Anne Burrell, who was best known for being the longtime host of the Food Network Show Worst Cooks In America, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, June 17, according to a representative.

Her family announced the news in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, “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.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Chef Anne Burrell attends CQ3 The Harlem Renaissance With DJ D-Nice presented by The Apollo on March 18, 2023 in New York City
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 18: Chef Anne Burrell attends CQ3 The Harlem Renaissance With DJ D-Nice presented by The Apollo on March 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)

TMZ reported that a 911 call was made on Tuesday morning after Burrell was found unresponsive. Paramedics were not able to revive her, and she was declared deceased in her home.

Fans, friends, and colleagues were shocked by the announcement of her passing, as she was only 55 years old and to anyone’s knowledge, did not have any health issues.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will be performing an autopsy and will announce the cause of death once they find it.

Burrell is survived by Stuart Claxton, her husband of four years, her step-son, Javier, and children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas.

Anne Was Living Her Life To The Fullest Up Until Her Death

Burrell was not asked back to host the most current season of Worst Cooks In America. She admitted on social media she did not know why she was not returning to the show she hosted for 27 seasons since 2010.

Although she wasn’t working on the show anymore, she was still living life to the fullest and attending events for friends in the culinary world up until her untimely death.

Just a few days before she passed away, she was at New York’s SoHo House for a culinary event put on by her fellow celebrity chef Elizabeth Falkner.

Anne Burrell celebrating her friend, Elizabeth Faulker, just a few days before her unexpected passing.
Anne Burrell celebrating her friend, Elizabeth Falkner, just a few days before her unexpected passing. (Photo Credit: Anne Burrell / Instagram)

In the last few months, Burrell had also started taking improv classes at The Second City Training Center.

In an Instagram post on March 19, Burrell said, “Ok… sooooooo a little update into the ‘Anne Burrell’ world. I know I have been kinda quiet of late. BUT I am taking “Improv for Actors” at @secondcitynyc !!! Can I just say it is SO much fun and I am learning so SO much!!! It really helps me get out of my shell… as if I needed that!!”

Anne Burrell revealing she started taking improv classes
Anne Burrell revealing she started taking improv classes (Photo Credit: Anne Burrell / Instagram)

The class went so well that she took another one! And on June 9, she revealed that the class would be putting on a show on Monday, June 16 at 9 PM.

Anne Burrell announcing her show with Second City Improv
Anne Burrell announcing her show with Second City Improv (Photo Credit: Anne Burrell / Instagram)

According to several Instagram users and a source who spoke with PEOPLE, Burrell did in fact perform at the show on Monday night (June 16), just a few hours before she was found unresponsive in her home.

The source told PEOPLE, “Everyone said she was so great last night and so happy.”

Another source who was with her at the improv show said, “[Anne] was in great spirits last night during and after the improv show. Typical fun, outgoing Anne, having a blast.”

The source says that everyone is “shocked and confused” about her sudden passing, since she was totally fine the evening before, performing on stage less than 10 hours before passing away.

Second City posted a tribute to Burrell on social media following her passing.

“We’re are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and student, Anne Burrell,” they wrote. “She will be missed and remembered as a vibrant part of our Second City New York Training Center community. Anne brought joy, boldness, and an unwavering yes, and spirit. Her enthusiasm was contagious, her presence unforgettable. Our thoughts go out to Anne’s family and loved ones.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and loved Anne Burrell.

Related Posts

This might be the sweetest thing you see all day. Before Keith Urban became a Grammy-winning superstar and one of the slickest guitar players in the world, he was just a wide-eyed 10-year-old Aussie with a bowl haircut and a big dream. In a heart-melting throwback video, little Keith takes the stage on live TV, clutching a microphone almost as big as him, and starts singing a Dolly Parton song with all the heart in the world. No flashy lights, no big crowd—just pure, innocent talent. It’s a glimpse of greatness before the fame, and honestly, it’s impossible not to smile.

Keith Urban has been dazzling on stage for literally decades now. But before he was a Grammy-winning artist and talented guitar player, he was this 10-year-old adorable Aussie…

Just weeks before his death, a deeply emotional Ozzy Osbourne stood under the lights for what would be his final encore—a goodbye that felt more like a goodbye to life itself. In front of thousands of fans, the Prince of Darkness gave everything he had on stage at his last Black Sabbath show. His voice cracked, not just from age, but from the weight of what he knew was coming. Surrounded by fellow rock legends and backed by the roar of a crowd that had loved him for decades, Ozzy poured his soul into every note. And in a moment that felt almost scripted by fate, he watched his daughter Kelly get engaged from the side of the stage. It was more than a concert—it was a curtain call on a life lived loud, a farewell wrapped in music, memory, and raw emotion.

Emotional Ozzy Osbourne said goodbye to fans at his ‘final encore’ just weeks before his death aged 76. The Black Sabbath frontman performed to thousands of fans at his…

The music world has come to a standstill. After the heartbreaking news of Ozzy Osbourne’s death at 76, tributes poured in like a tidal wave—raw, emotional, and unforgettable. Legends like Sir Elton John, Rod Stewart, and Ronnie Wood stepped forward, not just to honor a fellow icon, but to say goodbye to a brother. Tears were shed, stories were shared, and the stage felt a little darker without the Prince of Darkness. His bandmates from Black Sabbath said it best with just two words: “Ozzy forever.”

The world of music has honoured Ozzy Osbourne, with icons Sir Elton John, Sir Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood leading the stars paying emotional tribute to The Prince of Darkness following his death…

“When a country legend’s voice breaks mid-sentence, you know you’re witnessing grief in its rawest form.” At the Cowtown Coliseum this Memorial Day, George Strait stood before a hushed crowd, fighting back tears as he honored rodeo champion Roy Cooper, who perished in a house fire just weeks earlier. “Roy was one of my very best friends. I can count those on one hand. He was my hero,” Strait confessed, the weight of those words visibly heavy on his shoulders. What makes this friendship even more poignant is knowing Cooper once said he’d give his prized rodeo belt buckle to Strait “if he would wear it”—a testament to a bond that transcended fame and fortune, connecting two legends through genuine respect and shared memories.

Introduction This Memorial Day held a deeper, more personal meaning for country music legend George Strait. At Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, Strait stepped onstage not…

Little girl walks into police dog auction alone — what followed brought everyone to tears

At the Willow Creek county fair, young Lily Parker arrived with just $52.16, hoping to bring home Max, a retired K9 who had served alongside her late…

Ozzy Osbourne, ‘Prince Of Darkness’ And Heavy Metal Icon, Dies At 76

Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, surrounded by family, who asked for privacy during this time. The legendary rocker had battled Parkinson’s disease since…