Travel host, writer and chef Anthony Bourdain, 61, was found dead on Friday in a hotel room in Straasbourg, France, in an apparent suicide, CNN confirmed Friday morning.
Bourdain rose to prominence writing about the New York City restaurant scene, ultimately leading to his memoir “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.”
Later, he hosted the Travel Channel show “No Reservations” for eight seasons, sharing with audiences his love and appreciation for obscure, food that most Americans would call “weird.” In 2012, he joined CNN where he hosted “Parts Unknown,” a show where he approached international issues, politics and more by sharing meals with people from around the world, famously saying to “eat and drink with people without fear and prejudice … they open up to you in ways that somebody visiting who is driven by a story may not get.”
Bourdain was reportedly in France working on an episode of his “Parts Unknown” at the time of his death.
CNN statement regarding the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain: pic.twitter.com/MR1S5fP16o
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) June 8, 2018
“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.”
The Internet has since been flooded with posts and messages memorializing Bourdain as someone who encouraged Americans especially to step outside their comfort zones to connect with other people and who will be remembered as a fierce advocate for important social causes (including the #MeToo movement, which he supported both publicly with candid, thoughtful comments about masculinity and through his support of girlfriend Asia Argento, as PEOPLE notes.)
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
You know why I don’t eat airplane food? Cause Anthony Bourdain told me not to. When he talked. We listened. So sad his sorrow was too much to bear. We’re gonna miss seeing u travel the world & reminding us to try new things and embrace people we’ve never met. #RIPAnthonyBourdain
— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) 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
Bourdain is survived by Argento, his ex-wives, Nancy Putkoski and Ottavia Busia and his 11-year-old daughter, Ariane.