Celebrity chefs seem to have it all — a wonderful palate, a way to share their craft and passion with the world, and a good excuse to travel the world in search of the finest cuisine — for research. But no matter how wonderful their career (or anyone’s career, or anyone’s life) may be, it doesn’t mean they’re not struggling on the inside. Anthony Bourdain, known best for his books and television series such as No Reservations and Parts Unknown, was found dead on June 8th of an apparent suicide. He was only 61.
The loss is truly devastating. For years, Bourdain entertained fans across the world by showcasing culturally unique dishes in a personal way. By bringing viewers along on his journeys, we felt like we knew him personally. Still, not many people knew how much he was struggling on the inside.
Bourdain’s death was confirmed by CNN. His body was found in France by his friend and fellow chef, Eric Ripert. Bourdain was in the middle of filming an episode of Parts Unknown, which has been airing on the network since 2013. The show’s 11th season started on April 29th of this year, and the last episode aired prior to his death featured the chef exploring Hong Kong.
Aside from filming No Reservations and Parts Unknown, Bourdain was also known for writing a books, including one that exposed the truths about working in the kitchen. That book, titled Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, became a treasure amongst his fans and fellow chefs.
Bourdain’s death stunned many, as despite having a cynical sense of humor at times, he generally seemed happy on the outside. “I like anybody who is making food sincerely, who really cares about what they are doing, who takes pride in their food, who genuinely enjoys eating food, who likes people and who likes the whole process of cooking and eating, because if you don’t like to eat, there’s no way you can cook,” he stated to USA Today back in 2015.
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Many are mourning the news by posting tributes on Twitter. Here are just a few.
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
Man... RIP Anthony Bourdain. An amazing talent. Everybody is going through something. Don’t be afraid to talk about it.
— Ryan Bergara (@ryansbergara) June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain was one of my TV heroes. He injected personality and soul into the staid travelogue; watching his shows made me want to jump outta my couch and onto a flight to Romania or Laos or Pittsburgh. Dude knew how to tell the story of a place and its people in 42 mins.
— Scott Rogowsky (@ScottRogowsky) June 8, 2018
I’m so gutted by Anthony Bourdain’s passing because he embodied a sense of adventure, celebration of uniqueness and joi de vivre I was so inspired by. Goes to show that even if you travel to the ends of the earth, you cannot escape your own mind’s torment.
— Felicia Day🇺🇸 (@feliciaday) June 8, 2018
His untimely passing is a reminder that mental health issues can affect anyone — and they should be openly talked about, as they’re just as severe as any other type of disease. Anthony Bourdain made such an impact in the industry, and he’ll be intensely missed.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
