10 Food Network Stars Who Tragically Died Under Mysterious, Heartbreaking Circumstances—Unbelievable Secrets, Untold Stories, and Shocking Details Revealed! You Won’t Believe Who’s on This List or What Really Happened Behind the Scenes—Find Out the Truth Before This Article Is Gone Forever!

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Anne Burrell

Anne Burrell’s family confirmed the news of her untimely death on June 17, 2025.

“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend—her smile lit up every room she entered,” they wrote in a statement, per People. “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.”

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Floyd Cardoz

Floyd Cardoz went far after winning the third season of Top Chef. Over the course of his career, the chef wrote two cookbooks and opened seven restaurants. Born and raised in India, many of his eateries, like O Pedro and Bombay Canteen, paid homage to his background. Unfortunately, Cardoz died in March 2020, shortly after testing positive for Covid-19.

Carl Ruiz

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Carlos Ruiz catapulted into Food Network fame in 2013 when his New Jersey-based deli made an appearance on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The chef formed a special bond with the mayor of Flavortown—and even appeared on several of Fieri’s spin-off shows. Of course, he experienced plenty of success off-screen, too. Prior to his death in 2019—Ruiz suffered from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and peacefully passed away in his sleep—he served as the executive chef of La Cubana in New York City.

His legacy lives on with the Carl Ruiz Scholarship Foundation, which helps aspiring young chefs find their way.

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Fatima Ali

Fatima Ali instantly became a fan favorite when she competed on the 15th season of Top Chef in 2017. However, her promising career was cut short when she died from a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma in 2019. Though Ali is no longer with us, her memory lives on. Host Padma Lakshmi penned an emotional tribute for People, calling her a bright star whose light can never be dimmed.

“She made me appreciate sunlight on my face, the sound of laughter, the smell of cake baking,” Lakshmi wrote. “Fatima’s life was short, but her imprint on me will be there forever.” Additionally, Ali posthumously won two James Beard Foundation awards for excellence in food writing.

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Kerry Vincent

Kerry Vincent’s sweet tooth could not be beat. Viewers might know her from hosting Save My Bakery in 2014 or judging Food Network Challenge, but she also starred in The Great Australian Bake Off. Vincent’s death is a little mysterious, as reports claim she passed away from an undisclosed disease in 2021, but the legacy she left behind is a true treat.

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Judson Todd Allen

Between pursuing a career as a restauranteur to being Steve Harvey’s personal chef, Judson Todd Allen certainly knew his way around a kitchen. So it was no surprise that Allen famously landed a spot as a finalist in The Next Food Network star. With his fame on the rise, Allen also published a cookbook full of healthy recipes, which was largely inspired by his own health journey. Sadly, Food Network fans were shocked to learn Allen died of a suspected heart attack at just 36 years old in 2018.

Cristie Schoen

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As a fellow finalist on the eighth season of Food Network Star, the Spanish chef’s career was just getting started. However, tragedy struck in 2015 when Schoen, her husband, and their unborn child were murdered by Robert Jason Owens, who worked as a home contractor for the family. Dubbed as one of the “most disturbing killings in Buncombe County history,” Owens is currently serving out his prison sentence.

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Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright

For many Food Network fans, Two Fat Ladies was a burst of culinary joy. Hosts Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright would ride around in their iconic Triumph Thunderbird—and sidecar!—to sample the very best of British home cooking. Though the British show only lasted three years, it remains a cult classic and is often syndicated on Food Network. Sadly, both hosts are no longer with us: Paterson died from cancer in 1999, while Wright passed away from pneumonia in 2014.

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Kerry Simon

Kerry Simon’s star power knew no bounds. Not only did he star in (and win) Iron Chef in 2005, but the culinary creative used to cook for everyone from Diane Keaton to the rockers of bands like Alice Cooper and Led Zeppelin. Simon even opened his eponymous hospitality group and opened restaurants at several Hard Rock Resort locations. After suffering from a degenerative neurological disorder for two years, Simon died at 60 years old in 2015.

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Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain’s star shined brightly both in and out of the kitchen. After an illustrious, decades-long career working at restaurants like Rainbow Room, Supper Club, and Brasserie Les Halles, the chef turned to the small screen. In his first television series called A Cook’s Tour, which aired on Food Network from 2002 to 2003, he traveled the world to explore the intersection between cuisine and culture. Several shows and memoirs later, Bourdain was a bonafide chef-lebrity.