Celebrity chef and renowned television host Anthony Bourdain has died at the age of 61, CNN reported on Friday. Bourdain was the host of CNN’s food-and-travel-focused “Parts Unknown” program. The report said that the cause of death was suicide. “It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain,” CNN said in a statement it released on Friday.
“His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller,” the statement said further. Bourdain was touring France for a shoot for his award-winning CNN series “Parts Unknown.” Bourdain was found dead by his close friend Eric Ripert.
Bourdain was famous for his TV shows and books, through which he explored the human conditions and helped audiences think differently about food. Other than anchoring, he advocated for marginalized populations and campaigned for safer working conditions for restaurant staffs. Bourdain received a number of awards in the industry.
In 2013, Peabody Award judges honored Bourdain and “Parts Unknown” for “expanding our palates and horizons in equal measure”, the statement by CNN said. Bourdain is also the writer of 2000 best-seller “Don’t Eat Before Reading This,” the book set him on a path to international stardom.
The report further marks suicide as a growing problem in the United States. As per a survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates have increased by 25% across the country over nearly two decades ending in 2016.
The CNN anchors struggled to hold back tears as they recalled their late colleague in heartfelt recollections, AFP reported. The anchors also urged people faced with despair or who know people who are struggling with depression to call a suicide hotline.