Anthony Bourdain Dead at 61

[BK001]

CNN's Anthony Bourdain, famous chef and world traveler was found dead in his room while on location for an episode of the award winning show Parts Unknown.

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

I always enjoyed his shows. So sad.

Anthony Bourdain, chef-turned-TV host, dies at 61: Reports (https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/06/08/anthony-bourdain-chef-turned-tv-host-dies-61/683957002/)

[BK001]

CNN is reporting that Bourdain's death was definitely a suicide. He leaves behind an 11 year old daughter.

[Chi33]

Anthony Bourdain just committed suicide. Wow.:pray:

[CFrance]

I am so sad about this. When he was on Food Network doing A Cook's Tour, our company closed-captioned every single one of his shows, and later when we did captioning for Travel Channel. He was my culinary idol, and did so much for people on the fringe. I was so glad when he cleaned himself up, got married again, had a daughter & quit smoking because of her.

Two famous, wildly successful people in three days. You think some people have it made, but you never know what demons they may be suffering. I'm so sorry for both them and their families.

[DonH57]

Totally sad to hear. I found it hard to believe when I learned of his death. He was a great story teller. I enjoyed his shows and read a copy of his book " Kitchen Confidential". The man faced many demons in his life some of which he conquered but one never really knows what others are facing day to day. Prayers to his family.

[Madelaine Amee]

Terrible loss to me - I loved his show and made sure I watched every episode I could. I would never have eaten some of the food he ate in these different countries, but I loved his philosophy on life. Great loss.

The report states that he was found hanged in his hotel room in France. I cannot imagine breaking into a hotel room to find something like that, there are multiple ways to kill oneself, but hanging ......................

I am sure there will be more written about this.

[manaboutown]

Sadly, he had some serious substance abuse issues.

Bourdain had been known for being an unrepentant drinker and smoker. In a nod to Bourdain's (at the time) two-pack-a-day cigarette habit, renowned chef Thomas Keller once served him a 20-course tasting menu which included a mid-meal "coffee and cigarette": a coffee custard infused with tobacco, together with a foie gras mousse.[84] Bourdain stopped cigarette smoking in the summer of 2007 because of the birth of his daughter.[85] He is also a former user of cocaine, heroin, and LSD. In Kitchen Confidential he wrote of his experience in a trendy SoHo restaurant in 1981: "We were high all the time, sneaking off to the walk-in refrigerator at every opportunity to 'conceptualize.' Hardly a decision was made without drugs. Cannabis, methaqualone, cocaine, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms soaked in honey and used to sweeten tea, secobarbital, tuinal, amphetamine, codeine and, increasingly, heroin, which we'd send a Spanish-speaking busboy over to Alphabet City to get."[86] In the same book, Bourdain frankly described his former addiction, including how he once resorted to selling his record collection on the street in order to raise enough money to purchase drugs.

[New Englander]

Really sad. He was so successful. Why?

[tomwed]

I heard this on the TV so I may get things wrong. At 47 he was working in a kitchen just making ends meet, not a famous chef. He writes a book that tells what goes on in a kitchen. It takes off and 14 years later was doing quite well. Forget the wealth, he must have had many, many friends he could talk to. Why?

[manaboutown]

Suicide is a common end for drug and/or alcohol addicted people.

Suicide: One of Addiction’s Hidden Risks | Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/real-healing/201402/suicide-one-addiction-s-hidden-risks)

Addiction and Suicide - AddictionCenter (https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-and-suicide/)

[My Post]

I really like his books. He gave you the insider feel similar to Ruth Reichel. In his last one that came out a few years back, he writes a whole chapter on the guy who is in charge of cutting all the fish up at Le Bernardin every morning. Book is worth it just for that chapter. Fascinating. 100s of pounds of the worlds best seafood and he can't leave nary a bone even one time.

[Tweety Bird]

Suicide is a common end for drug and/or alcohol addicted people.

Suicide: One of Addiction’s Hidden Risks | Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/real-healing/201402/suicide-one-addiction-s-hidden-risks)

Addiction and Suicide - AddictionCenter (https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-and-suicide/)

Good article in Psychology Today.

[Madelaine Amee]

I just read extracts from the last interview he gave where he said he was probably the happiest he has ever been, had a new lady, loved his daughter dearly and was writing a book with her ............ and then went on to say something about ending it all when you are at the top of your game and several other odd comments. Very strange.

I am sure his ex wife will get help for the daughter, she is going to need it. 11 yrs old and having to deal with this.

[kcrazorbackfan]

So incredibly sad to hear of his death. We really enjoyed watching his shows from places we know we would never travel to and his eating food we knew we would never eat.

[Madelaine Amee]

I watched the hour long tribute to him last night on CNN. It was very moving, he was so much alive, so tall, big, healthy looking man and to think he ended it all like that. How very sad. One of the commentators who knew him well said he was the man all men want to be and all women want to be with!

He had an amazing and rare talent to be able to communicate in a seemingly very genuine way with people of all walks of life. The episode he did in the hills of Virginia was such an insight into how people from different areas think and live.

Such a loss.

[ColdNoMore]

His and Kate Spade's suicides is a stark reminder, that wealth and fame...don't automatically insulate someone from depression and mental illness. :(

[graciegirl]

I have watched snippets of his shows over the years but never could get the hang of them or him. Rick Steves was more my style.

Suicide is an unspeakable tragedy that leaves those left behind inconsolable. I wonder how much his drug abuse damaged his brain and altered his choices.

Some people are born with addictive personalities and are more in danger of drug abuse. I wish we could solve the drug dilemma and find much better ways to help depression and mental illness.

There are no words to console those who grieve his loss. Or that of Kate Spade or those who took their own lives known to each and every one of us.

[DeanFL]

Truthfully now...how many of us, during such stressful points in our lives have had that "fleeting thought"...?



Robin Williams:

"Suicide is a Permanent Solution to Temporary Problems"


Robin Williams - "Suicide is a Permanent Solution to Temporary Problems" - YouTube (https://youtu.be/aebsLSu3Igk)

[Schaumburger]

I really enjoyed Anthony Bourdain's shows on both the Travel Channel and CNN. He was a gifted story teller, going to places that many of us will never get a chance to visit.

Wealth and celebrity do not guarantee a happy life as was demonstrated twice this past week.

Whatever demons and issues plagued both Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade, may they rest in peace.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones. (taken from the Lifeline's web site).

[Bay Kid]

We lose our veterans to suicide everyday without any attention to their problems. Suicide is very sad for all, even harder on the ones left behind.

[capecodbob]

I have to wonder WHY this tragedy gets all the front page stories yet roughly 22 veterans are dying by suicide every day, or one every 65 minutes.
Most of the vets had little or nothing. This guy had it all.

I guess CNN feels this guy is way more important than our Vets. But I'm not surprised.

[nututv]

Sadly, he had some serious substance abuse issues.

Bourdain had been known for being an unrepentant drinker and smoker. In a nod to Bourdain's (at the time) two-pack-a-day cigarette habit, renowned chef Thomas Keller once served him a 20-course tasting menu which included a mid-meal "coffee and cigarette": a coffee custard infused with tobacco, together with a foie gras mousse.[84] Bourdain stopped cigarette smoking in the summer of 2007 because of the birth of his daughter.[85] He is also a former user of cocaine, heroin, and LSD. In Kitchen Confidential he wrote of his experience in a trendy SoHo restaurant in 1981: "We were high all the time, sneaking off to the walk-in refrigerator at every opportunity to 'conceptualize.' Hardly a decision was made without drugs. Cannabis, methaqualone, cocaine, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms soaked in honey and used to sweeten tea, secobarbital, tuinal, amphetamine, codeine and, increasingly, heroin, which we'd send a Spanish-speaking busboy over to Alphabet City to get."[86] In the same book, Bourdain frankly described his former addiction, including how he once resorted to selling his record collection on the street in order to raise enough money to purchase drugs.
He'd fought depression for a long time from what I've read. It's tough and obviously sometimes it wins. Selling your belongings for a fix, having a 2 pack a day smoking habit etc., well it has nothing to do with depression.

[nututv]

I wonder how much his drug abuse damaged his brain and altered his choices.
Because you did drugs a year ago or a decade ago, those things don't alter your choices present day. It's like saying 5 years ago I was hooked on caffeine and I'm still wide awake from it.

[Tweety Bird]

I have to wonder WHY this tragedy gets all the front page stories yet roughly 22 veterans are dying by suicide every day, or one every 65 minutes.
Most of the vets had little or nothing. This guy had it all.

I guess CNN feels this guy is way more important than our Vets. But I'm not surprised.

Your analysis is not a great comparison. Bourdain was on TV for years. News is about what people can relate to and he was a famous TV persona as well as Robin Williams and designer Kate Spade. And the big question is WHY? He had everything, one would reason. It's horrible that Vets commit suicide, but it would be never ending news because war is never ending. Maybe a documentary of why vets commit suicide?

[ColdNoMore]

Because you did drugs a year ago or a decade ago, those things don't alter your choices present day. It's like saying 5 years ago I was hooked on caffeine and I'm still wide awake from it.


:boom:

[nututv]

So many people don't understand severe depression. To know someone suffering doesn't count either but it at least scratches the surface of understanding.
Unless you've experienced it, you will never understand the mental anguish. It haunts you when you're awake and just waits for you to go to sleep. That's when some really horrific things wander through your mind. To your mind, perception is reality. Waking from a nightmare is quite real and the black dog can really cook up some bad ones.
I'm afraid Mr Bourdain's last thoughts were just pure hell. Thoughts that no one would ever understand.

[manaboutown]

Because you did drugs a year ago or a decade ago, those things don't alter your choices present day. It's like saying 5 years ago I was hooked on caffeine and I'm still wide awake from it.

If you ever went to a NA or AA meeting you might discover that this statement is rarely true. An individual's thinking and decision making become altered as a result of heavy alcohol and/or drug use over a period of time.

[nututv]

If you ever went to a NA or AA meeting you might discover that this statement is rarely true. An individual's thinking and decision making become altered as a result of heavy alcohol and/or drug use over a period of time.
There are never absolutes. Look at the Rolling Stones and Ozzy. Over their reign they've done enough drugs long term to annihilate the population of several cities. I'm not saying that someone having a bad trip won't do some bad things or make wrong decisions but I'm not familiar with any drugs that will lead to long term severe depression lasting decades. Just saying from experience.
.
edit: All that said, I've no idea what his medicine cabinet looked like at his death. Drug related or just his personal demon. It's a horrible thing. Hopefully his pain is gone now.

[manaboutown]

edit: All that said, I've no idea what his medicine cabinet looked like at his death. Drug related or just his personal demon. It's a horrible thing. Hopefully his pain is gone now.

Whatever the causation factors it was a sad ending. RIP

[nututv]

Whatever the causation factors it was a sad ending. RIP

Yessir. I watch very little TV but I sure enjoyed his frankness, sense of humor and adventure. He'll surely be missed here.

[jrosaltal1]

I also loved his show and thought I would love to do what he did, to experience so many people and cultures. But, sometimes the camera would catch him when he was travelling alone and he looked very lonely. It must have been hard on him and his family to be separated most of the year. Big celebrities can sometimes feel very alienated and isolated from everyone else because they are so different. so many "shooting Stars" rise to fame ends in tragedy.

[CFrance]

One of his shows depicts him talking to a psychiatrist about depression. Several scenes in the show. Maybe he was suffering from depression like Kate Spade was, and the public didn't know it.

I also wonder--not saying that he was taking anything for depression--why so many anti-depression medications warn of suicidal thoughts. I thought they were supposed to act against such thoughts of despair.

[graciegirl]

Because you did drugs a year ago or a decade ago, those things don't alter your choices present day. It's like saying 5 years ago I was hooked on caffeine and I'm still wide awake from it.

Neurological Effects | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/health-consequences-drug-misuse/neurological-effects)

[nututv]

Maybe he was suffering from depression like Kate Spade was, and the public didn't know it.
I can only speak for myself here but many will agree... we know the effects and pain it often causes others. Hiding it from others we've become quite good at.

why so many anti-depression medications warn of suicidal thoughts.
Sometimes those fleeting thoughts are the lesser of the evils. As in having slightly lesser thoughts non stop.

[nututv]

Neurological Effects | National Institute on Drug Abuse
Have you ever personally experienced either? As in yourself vs knowing others that may have.