Emmy-winning Parts Unknown host, chef and author Anthony Bourdain was found unresponsive in his hotel room in France on Friday morning, his employer CNN confirms. He was 61 years old.
“It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain,” the network said in a statement. “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.”
CNN reports that Bourdain’s cause of death was suicide.
Bourdain was in France to work on a forthcoming episode of Parts Unknown, his beloved food/travel series, which recently premiered its 11th season. Bourdain was found unresponsive this morning by his close friend, French chef Eric Ripert.
Tributes to Bourdain have spread far and wide across social media this morning.
Many heavy hearts in the @CNN newsroom this morning as we mourn our colleague Anthony Bourdain. If you or anyone you know needs help, please reach out. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
— Courtney Doll (@CourtneyLDoll) June 8, 2018
I feel this death in my bones. @Bourdain had what I’d call a generous curiosity about the world, guiding audiences through it with an awe, respect, and humor that are all too uncommon. Also rare: he knew what he didn’t know. I never knew him in person. I will miss him terribly.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) June 8, 2018
So sad to hear about Anthony Bourdain. Depression comes in many many forms, it attacks different people in different ways. Tell someone about it. Cling to the raft. Keep going.
— Carl Newman (@ACNewman) June 8, 2018
watching someone like anthony bourdain experience different cultures, people & food with unmitigated curiosity and joy helped me through my own depression and my sometimes-tortured relationship with food. RIP
— maya kosoff (@mekosoff) June 8, 2018
Thanks for shining a light on what connects us all, in every corner of the world, and for your unapologetic humanity. You’ll be sorely missed. @Bourdain
— The Districts (@TheDistrictsPa) June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain could have done a lot of things with his success but he used it to think about what it means to live with each other. RIP
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) June 8, 2018
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, you are not alone. National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 or online at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.