Celebrity American chef Anthony Bourdain, aged 61

American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain has been found dead in his hotel room in France while working on his CNN series on culinary traditions around the world.

CNN confirmed the 61-year-old’s death, saying in a statement he was found unresponsive yesterday morning by friend and fellow chef Eric Ripert. The US network said Bourdain was in Strasbourg filming an upcoming segment in his series Parts Unknown.

The CNN statement said: “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.”

Chef Gordon Ramsay tweeted he was stunned and saddened, writing that Bourdain “brought the world into our homes and inspired so many people to explore cultures”.

Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern wrote that a piece of his heart “is truly broken”.

Zimmern said “the sad cruel irony” is that in the last year, Bourdain had never been happier.

Actor and former Man v Food host Adam Richman tweeted “Why?” Richman said his heart was with Bourdain. Bourdain achieved celebrity status after the publication in 2000 of his best-selling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.

The book created a sensation by combining frank details of his life and career with behind-thescenes observations on the culinary industry. It was a rare crossover – a book intended for professional cooks that had enormous mass appeal.

Bourdain went on to achieve widespread fame thanks to his CNN series Parts Unknown and was filming an upcoming segment for the show when he was found.

Chefs, fans and US President Donald Trump were among those stunned and saddened by the news.

“I want to extend to his family my heartfelt condolences,” Mr Trump said.

Picture: PA. Anthony Bourdain was found dead in a hotel room in Paris.