Anthony Bourdain, the versatile chef and storyteller, CNN "Parts Unknown" host and New Jersey native, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 61.
Anthony Bourdain, the versatile chef and storyteller who grew up in New Jersey and hosted CNN “Parts Unknown,” has died, according to multiple reports. He was 61.
CNN reports that Bourdain’s death has been ruled a suicide. He was found unresponsive in his hotel room Friday by a friend while shooting a “Parts Unknown” episode in France.
“(Bourdain’s) love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller,” CNN said in a statement Friday. “His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much.”
Bourdain was born in New York City but grew up in Leonia and graduated from Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood in 1973. Bourdain went on to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in 1978 before managing several New York City kitchens, including Supper Club, One Fifth Avenue and Sullivan’s.
He is the author of New York Times best-sellers “Kitchen Confidential” (2000), “A Cook’s Tour” (2001) and “The Nasty Bits” (2006), and has starred in several cooking- and travel-related television shows, most notably the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations” (2005 to 2012) and CNN’s Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning series “Parts Unknown,” since 2013.
On “Parts,” Bourdain was outspoken about his Jersey roots, dedicating an entire episode to his home state. On the episode, which aired in 2015, Bourdain visited Frank’s Deli in Asbury Park and the shorefront city’s Silverball (pinball) Museum with local rocker Southside Johnny. In the episode, Bourdain also sat down with former NJ.com writer Brian Donohue at Doc’s Oyster House in Atlantic City, ate fried hot dogs at Hiram’s in Fort Lee and drove to Donkey’s Place in Camden, where he proclaimed that the best cheesesteak might not come from Philadelphia after all.
Bourdain was known for his irreverence and fearlessness in the food world, where he would try just about anything anywhere, including Namibian warthog rectum and raw seal eyeballs.
Bourdain is survived by his daughter, Ariane, born in 2007 from his second wife, Ottavia Busia, from whom he divorced in 2016.
Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
