Popular TV show host and chef Anthony Bourdain was found dead in a hotel room. The American-born passed away at the age of 61 and is survived by wife Ottavia Busia and duaghter Ariane.

The cable news network, which hosted Bourdain’s globe-trotting culinary travel guide Parts Unknown, 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 on Friday.

“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.”

Some reports suggest that he was found hanging in the hotel room in Strasbourg, France, where he was recording an episode of his award-winning CNN series. His friend Eric Ripert, the French chef,  was the first person to discover Bourdain unresponsive.

Bourdain was one of cooking’s leading storytellers and authored several books, including Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly and Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook.

Image: CNN