Anthony Bourdain dead

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Former Member

New York (CNN)Anthony Bourdain, a gifted storyteller and writer who took CNN viewers around the world, has died. He was 61.

CNN confirmed Bourdain's death on Friday and said the cause of death was suicide.

"It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain," the network 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."

Bourdain was in France working on an upcoming episode of his award-winning CNN series "Parts Unknown." His close friend Eric Ripert, the French chef, found Bourdain unresponsive in his hotel room Friday morning.

"Tony was an exceptional talent," CNN President Jeff Zucker said in an email to employees. "Tony will be greatly missed not only for his work but also for the passion with which he did it."

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Anthony Bourdain in Port of Spain, Trinidad on January 4, 2017.

Bourdain was a master of his crafts -- first in the kitchen and then in the media. Through his TV shows and books, he explored the human condition and helped audiences think differently about food, travel and themselves. He advocated for marginalized populations and campaigned for safer working conditions for restaurant staffs.

Along the way, he received practically every award the industry has to offer.

In 2013, Peabody Award judges honored Bourdain and "Parts Unknown" for "expanding our palates and horizons in equal measure."

Bourdain to Cooper: 'I'm not a dream date for a vegetarian'

"He's irreverent, honest, curious, never condescending, never obsequious," the judges said. "People open up to him and, in doing so, often reveal more about their hometowns or homelands than a traditional reporter could hope to document."

The Smithsonian once called him "the original rock star" of the culinary world, "the Elvis of bad boy chefs."

In 1999 he wrote a New Yorker article, "Don't Eat Before Reading This," that became a best-selling book in 2000, "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly."

Asking for help

The suicide rate in the United States has seen sharp increases in recent years. It's now the 10th leading cause of death in the country, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Studies have shown that the risk of suicide declines sharply when people call the national suicide hotline: 1-800-273-TALK

There is also a crisis text line.

The lines are staffed by a mix of paid professionals and unpaid volunteers trained in crisis and suicide intervention. The confidential environment, the 24-hour accessibility, a caller's ability to hang up at any time and the person-centered care have helped its success, advocates say.

The book set him on a path to international stardom.

First he hosted "A Cook's Tour" on the Food Network, then moved to "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. "No Reservations" was a breakout hit, earning two Emmy Awards and more than a dozen nominations.

In 2013 both Bourdain and CNN took a risk by bringing him to the news network still best known for breaking news and headlines. Bourdain quickly became one of the principal faces of the network and one of the linchpins of the prime time schedule.

Season 11 of "Parts Unknown" premiered on CNN last month.

Anthony Bourdain's top 10 'Parts Unknown' episodes

Explore Parts Unknown: Everywhere he traveled

While accepting the Peabody award in 2013, Bourdain described how he approached his work.

"We ask very simple questions: What makes you happy? What do you eat? What do you like to cook? And everywhere in the world we go and ask these very simple questions," he said, "we tend to get some really astonishing answers."

Bourdain's death happened after fashion designer Kate Spade hanged herself in an apparent suicide at her Manhattan apartment on Tuesday.

Suicide is a growing problem in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a survey Thursday showing suicide rates increased by 25% across the United States over nearly two decades ending in 2016. Twenty-five states experienced a rise in suicides by more than 30%, the government report finds.

6/8/188:05 AM

Former Member

Liked his how

RIP

6/8/188:09 AM

Former Member

oh fv*k!

6/8/188:14 AM

Former Member

We always thought he would eat his way to the grave. Suicide is quite surprising. RIP.

6/8/188:19 AM

Former Member

A few suicides in the news lately; this one is shocking. I really enjoyed his shows where we saw different parts of the world, their culture and foods. That man ate some strange things like barbequed lizards, etc.

6/8/188:21 AM

Former Member

Just the other day was Kate Spad.

This shows suicide is not just a simple act of cowardice but a deeper mental/emotional issue.

6/8/188:35 AM

Former Member

Baseman posted:
Just the other day was Kate Spad.
This shows suicide is not just a simple act of cowardice but a deeper mental/emotional issue.

Our book has a chapter on Mental Health.

6/8/188:47 AM

VishMahabirSenior Member

THIS IS A REAL SURPRISE...I watched all his shows on CNN

6/8/188:55 AM

Former Member

I enjoyed watching his shows. They show the different cultures and food human beings eat. It was more educational.

RIP brother Anthony. I will miss your shows. May God bless your soul.

6/8/189:57 AM

NehruBig Mouth Member

WOW!! Shocked, you never know!! RIP

6/8/189:59 AM

PrashadSenior Member

This is a surprise. Bourdain was a deep thinking man with young kids. I read somewhere that he was a former drug addict. I wonder if he relapsed and decided to end his life.

6/8/1810:04 AM

Former Member

Prashad posted:
This is a surprise. Bourdain was a deep thinking man with young kids. I read somewhere that he was a former drug addict. I wonder if he relapsed and decided to end his life.

As more comes to light, it shows how complex and difficult it is to short-list people heading towards suicide. He seemed so happy, so contented and so purposeful in life.

What made him so popular, so successful and loved by millions all around the world may have been the source for his own personal pain. He told a friend his constant travels meant he had few deep friendships and likely led to his divorce. But there was no other way.

With all the glitz and glamour, no one thought of him suffering from loneliness which led to depression and this end! Career and destiny could be uncompromising and unforgiving!

6/10/1812:02 PM

Former Member

Balance in life is always the best approach. Muhammad understood that very well. He always advised his companions to 'follow the middle path'. We don't need everything that we have and in many ways, chasing after everything robs us of losing many things.

6/10/1812:20 PM

Former Member

ksazma posted:
Balance in life is always the best approach. Muhammad understood that very well. He always advised his companions to 'follow the middle path'. We don't need everything that we have and in many ways, chasing after everything robs us of losing many things.

That "middle path" always release stress, true dattt!!