CNN’s Anthony Bourdain Dead at 61

Television personality, author and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who was in France working on an upcoming episode of his CNN series “Parts Unknown.” committed suicide at the age of 61.

“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.”

Born on June 25, 1956, Bourdain was a 1978 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He first became known for his 2000 book “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,” and his first television show was “A Cook’s Tour,” which aired on Food Network from 2002 to 2003. In 2005 he began hosting the Travel Channel’s culinary and cultural adventure programs “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” (from 2005-12) and “The Layover” (2011-13), In 2013, he switched to CNN to host  “Parts Unknown.”

Bourdain was married twice, first to his high-school sweetheart Nancy Putkoski in 1985. They divorced after 20 years. Two years later he married mixed martial artist Ottavia Busia and they had a daughter, Ariane, born in 2007.