Anthony Bourdain dead at 61: Remembrances pour in for celebrity chef and CNN host
Fans and friends are reacting with shock and sadness to the news of Anthony Bourdain’s apparent suicide. The 61-year-old celebrity chef, writer and Emmy Award-winning “Parts Unknown” host was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Strasbourg, France, on Friday morning.
“It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague Anthony Bourdain,” CNN said in a statement Friday morning. “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.”
French chef Eric Ripert discovered Bourdain’s body.
“Anthony was my best friend,” Riper tweeted. “An exceptional human being, so inspiring & generous. One of the great storytellers who connected [with] so many. I pray he is at peace from the bottom of my heart. My love & prayers are also [with] his family, friends and loved ones.”
Bourdain’s girlfriend, the actress Asia Argento, remembered him in a heartbreaking Twitter post.
“Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did,” Argento wrote. “His brilliant, fearless spirit touched and inspired so many, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was my love, my rock, my protector. I am beyond devastated.”
She added: “My thoughts are with his family. I would ask that your respect their privacy and mine.”
Former President Barack Obama, who appeared in a 2016 episode of “Parts Unknown,” paid tribute to Bourdain on Twitter.
“Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer.” This is how I’ll remember Tony. He taught us about food — but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown. We’ll miss him. pic.twitter.com/orEXIaEMZM
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 8, 2018
President Obama and Anthony Bourdain enjoy dinner and beer in Hanoi.
Fun fact: This restaurant in Vietnam was so honored by the visit, that they framed the table and stools. pic.twitter.com/hTorcNGg4N
— Denizcan Grimes (@MrFilmkritik) June 8, 2018
At the White House, President Trump said he was shocked to hear of Bourdain’s death.
“That was very shocking when I woke up this morning,” Trump told reporters before heading to the G7 Summit. “I enjoyed his show. He was quite a character, I will say. But, so, I just want to extend my condolences and also to the family of Kate Spade.” Spade, the 55-year-old famed handbag designer, committed suicide earlier this week.
Remembrances for Bourdain poured in across social media.
Oh Tony. Oh no. Sitting here weeping. There will never be another like you. Really tragic loss.
— ruthreichl (@ruthreichl) June 8, 2018
My heart breaks for Tony Bourdain. May he rest in peace now. He was a friend, a collaborator, and family. A huge personality, a giant talent, a unique voice, and deeply, deeply human. My heart goes out to his daughter and family, and his longtime partners and friends at ZPZ.
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) June 8, 2018
I have to say I’m in total shock to hear that the amazing @Bourdain has just died he really broke the mould, pushed the culinary conversation, Rest in peace chef thoughts and love to all his family and close friends xxxxxxxxxxx pic.twitter.com/HB7sV7CeRH
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) June 8, 2018
Bourdain's exceptional writing made this one formerly picky, fearful eater very brave and want to try everything and I'll always be grateful for him and the worlds he opened
— Lin-Manuel Miranda ️ (@Lin_Manuel) June 8, 2018
As @NASA searches for life on Mars, we lose the life of beloved Anthony Bourdain on Earth. Implicit and explicit reminders of how precious life is, anywhere in the universe.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) June 8, 2018
A friend of @StarTalkRadio. A friend of Food & Culture. A friend to us all. Anthony Bourdain, RIP. (1956-2018). pic.twitter.com/uVqEgldGsL
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) June 8, 2018
Anthony. One of my idols. Unapologetic, passionate and one of the best storytellers on the planet. Thank you for making food so exciting. And always standing up for everything right. Horrible. Why why why. Be at peace now
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain, 61 was very dear to me. He was an educator, he was such a foodie who shared his travels, wisdom and loved him some Foxy Brown.
To his family, Peace be still.— Pam Grier Ph.D (@PamGrier) June 8, 2018
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
A piece of my heart is truly broken this morning. And the irony, the sad cruel irony is that the last year he’d never been happier. The rest of my heart aches for the 3 amazing women he left behind.
Tony was a symphony. I wish everyone could have seen all of him. A true friend.— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) June 8, 2018
No words. https://t.co/RPdWgGRAGJ
— Carson Daly (@CarsonDaly) June 8, 2018
I ate with Bourdain. Probably 2004. He was big even then but he took time to sit with me in Chinatown to talk “weird” food for a magazine piece I was writing. He taught me that our “weird” is the world’s delicious. We ate chicken feet. The afternoon vibrated with life. RIP
— John Hodgman (@hodgman) June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain told @nprfreshair in 2016 that experiencing the everyday lives of people around the globe helps give depth to the news reports about those places. https://t.co/WljjwLy46H pic.twitter.com/4QXfysV8S4
— Morning Edition (@MorningEdition) June 8, 2018
Here is Anthony Bourdain with a group of children in Gaza. Thank you for shining your light on the dark places. pic.twitter.com/225CETUQZd
— Erin Cunningham (@erinmcunningham) June 8, 2018
This is utterly heartbreaking. Thank you for opening our eyes to parts of the world both cherished and unknown. What a legacy. Sending peace and love to his family. If you or someone you love needs help, please reach out or call 1-800-273-TALK. https://t.co/mkht3wTY5m
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain committed suicide. I feel sick to my stomach. He inspired me to travel the world and get over my fear of flying. I was lucky enough to meet him on one of my flights. I can't breathe
— Andy Milonakis (@andymilonakis) June 8, 2018
Anthony @Bourdain is dead at age 61. We have lost an adventurous traveler who embraced and defended the cultures of the world — and who thought deeply about the issues that challenged nations and regions. I valued his genuine radicalism. pic.twitter.com/ofCsalcfVm
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) June 8, 2018
Some of us @nytimes old-timers remember being copy-edited by Gladys Bourdain, who would talk so proudly of her son. Anthony Bourdain took us to corners of this world with curiosity, irreverence – and great compassion. A remarkable man.
— Dan Barry (@DanBarryNYT) June 8, 2018
In 2008 I worked at Townsend Lobster in Provincetown. Anthony Bourdain came in with like 20 family members. Kids running everywhere. He sassed me about not knowing the menu prices, tried guessing the lobster weight, twinkled his blue eyes, and bought lunch for everyone.
— Ariel Dumas (@ArielDumas) June 8, 2018
Also, even though he was unshaven, in an old T-shirt, needed a haircut, basically like he just rolled off a beach towel – it was like talking to Cary Grant. Those blue, blue eyes. He flirted shamelessly. I was completely a-flutter. We all were.
— Ariel Dumas (@ArielDumas) June 8, 2018
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you… You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” — Anthony Bourdain #RIP pic.twitter.com/1X5IoWzLbC
— Tribeca (@Tribeca) June 8, 2018
I know people always roll their eyes at the reaction to celebrity deaths, but for better or worse these people creep into our lives & make an impact. Anthony Bourdain wasn’t just a celebrity or a chef, he was one of the most brilliant story tellers out there.
— Arnesa (@Rrrrnessa) June 8, 2018
Extremely sad about Anthony Bourdain. His incredible CNN show kept me company in many a lonely hotel room far from home hundreds of times. Rest in peace, sir.
— Gareth Emery (@garethemery) June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain's episode on Haiti is one of the few things I've watched with my parents.
Long after I stopped watching cooking and travel shows I still watched Bourdain. He managed to find truth in places while eschewing tired tropes, to be sarcastic without punching down
— Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis (@KendraWrites) June 8, 2018
The thing about Anthony Bourdain was that he enjoyed the simplest meals in the simplest settings the most. Eloquently told stories of food which were really stories about people, about culture, about us. RIP
— Mico Halili (@micohalili) June 8, 2018
According to AFSP, there are nearly 45,000 suicides every year in the US. Shocking. I was saddened to hear of the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. RIP. It illustrates that success is not immune to depression. We all need to be more aware of our friends who are suffering
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) June 8, 2018
Oh my God @Bourdain has taken his life. People are in unmanageable pain. This is my wake up call today. We have to help those who cannot help themselves.
— Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) June 8, 2018
Damn it, Tony.
Why?
I’ll always love you, pal.
Always be grateful.
Never gonna stop wondering why, though.
My heart is with you, wherever you are. Sending strength to your daughter.
Thank you, thank you – a thousand thousand thank you’s for everything.@Bourdain
— Adam Richman (@AdamRichman) June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain had one of the only shows on tv that tried with all its might to teach Americans not to be scared of other people.
— Allison F. (@ablington) June 8, 2018
His wisdom, his insight, his humor, his compassion, his staunch resistance to the inauthentic and support of all that resonates from the heart, and his passion for life that he shared with the us….Its difficult to process a world without Anthony Bourdain.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) June 8, 2018
“Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom… is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go."
— Anthony Bourdain, "Parts Unknown"
— Jenna Amatulli (@ohheyjenna) June 8, 2018
