Anthony Bourdain was a famous chef, writer, and travel documentarian from the United States who has appeared on numerous TV shows.
He earned a reputation by featuring in various programs that explored international culture, cuisine, and the human condition.
Regrettably, the renowned figure was discovered deceased at Le Chambard Hotel in France on June 8, 2018, as a result of taking his own life at the age of 61.
A Brief Account of the Demise
Anthony Bourdain tragically died by suicide three years ago in June of 2018, leaving the nation in mourning.
On Twitter, many individuals shared poignant and heart-wrenching comments; one person wrote: “I wish Anthony Bourdain was here to see this.”
He possessed multiple talents and achieved immense success in his career. Bourdain was a television icon, an eloquent and articulate writer, a social-media favorite, a perceptive cultural observer, and seemingly everyone’s confidant.
The distinctiveness of his personality and his unexpected passing has stirred an extremely potent and long-lasting sorrow—a personal encounter with public loss and mourning.
Documentary Filmmaker, Morgan Neville, Explores His Suicide
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville commenced interviewing people close to Bourdain in 2019, and about a year after his passing, Neville interviewed his family, friends, and the producers and crew of his TV series. When he inquired about the untimely death, everyone was deeply saddened to discuss it.
Following numerous interviews, Neville remarked: “These were the most challenging interviews I’ve ever conducted, hands down. I played the role of a grief counselor to speak with everyone.”
By delving into his demise and honoring Anthony’s life, Neville uncovered the true story of his passing and subsequently created a documentary about his life.
Neville’s ability to unravel the narrative after gauging public perspectives earned him various accolades, including Academy Awards for the documentary “20 Feet from Stardom,” which centered on the lives of rock-and-roll backup singers released in 2014.
Additionally, his other documentaries revolve around his fascination with exploring the lives of men who exceed the usual boundaries of fame: Johnny Cash, Orson Welles, and Mr. Rogers.
For his creation of the documentary “Roadrunner,” Neville conducted numerous interviews, interacted with many people at a public level, utilized archived material, and employed unconventional methods to build a compelling case for Bourdain, portraying him as both the hero and the antagonist of his own story—a typical tormented genius, simultaneously childlike and world-weary, yet spared from cliché by the extraordinary nature of his character.
Within the film, Anthony Bourdain’s voice is heard in the opening minutes, stating: “You’re probably going to find out about this anyway, so here’s a little preemptive truth-telling, there will be no happy ending.”
Reportedly, Neville met his colleague to discuss “Roadrunner” via Zoom, and during the conversation, Neville was at his home in Pasadena, California. A few days later, the two met in person at a Manhattan hotel restaurant while the film was being screened for journalists and Academy members in a room below.
Neville, aged 53, with closely cropped silver hair and studious glasses, grew up in Southern California and was a notable figure due to his father. He was the son of a rare-book dealer and worked as a journalist in New York and San Francisco before venturing into documentary work.
During an interview, Neville expressed: “I often feel like the instructions are in the box as I’m filming a movie. Often, how to convey a story is conveyed by the subject: Mr. Rogers should be simple and profound storytelling; Orson Welles should be chaotic and intelligent storytelling. And this film—Tony—is all about ambiguity.”
Prior to His Passing, He Engaged in ‘Parts of Unknown’
A few years before his death, he had a role in an episode of Parts Unknown.
While this episode, like many of his documentaries, focused on intriguing meals and people, it also unveiled a darker facet of Bourdain’s relationship with food.
During his participation in ‘Parts Of Unknown’, Bourdain openly visited a psychotherapist in Buenos Aires, Argentina. During their session, he confided in the therapist that something as trivial as eating a subpar burger at the airport could plunge him into “a spiral of sadness that can linger for days.” He also expressed a desire to be “happier.”
On working on the episodes of ‘Parts Of Unknown’ in 2017, Anthony met Italian actress Asia Argento in Rome and appeared to be happier than ever after meeting her regularly.
However, despite his elation on meeting his co-actor, he grappled with mental health struggles. He frequently mused about death, openly speculating on how he might end his own life if he chose to. In one of his final interviews, he even mentioned that he was going to “die in the saddle,” a disconcerting statement.
Despite his illustrious career as a travel documentary filmmaker, he was plagued by darkness and couldn’t shake it off. His frustration, combined with his demanding schedule, evidently left him drained when the camera stopped rolling.
Events Leading Up to His Death
Five days before his passing, images of Argento dancing with another man, French reporter -Hugo Clément, circulated throughout the country.
Though Bourdain had publicly acknowledged having an open relationship with Argento, the impact of these images on him was a source of speculation among fans.
It’s clear that the images profoundly impacted Anthony, and the workings of his mind at that time remain unknown.
On June 8, 2018, at 9:10 a.m, Anthony Bourdain was discovered deceased at the Le Chambard Hotel in Kaysersberg-Vignoble, France.
Following the investigation, Anthony Bourdain’s death was promptly determined to be an apparent suicide.
He was found hanging in the hotel room by his friend Éric Ripert, with whom he had been filming Parts Unknown.
Eric Ripert, a close friend, later remarked, “Anthony was an exceptional person; he was an extraordinary human being, inspiring and generous. One of the great storytellers of our time who touched countless lives. I wish him peace. My sincere condolences and prayers go out to his family, friends, and loved ones.”
Subsequent medical assessments revealed that a few weeks later, traces of narcotics were absent from Bourdain’s system, with only a faint trace of a non-narcotic prescription detected.
Experts deemed his suicide an “impulsive act.”
Implications of the Respected Figure’s Death
Following Bourdain’s passing, devastated fans gathered at Brasserie Les Halles to offer their condolences and pay tribute to him.
Multiple individuals, including his prominent CNN colleagues and even President Obama, conveyed their condolences through tweets.
His family expressed shock at his sudden death. His mother dishearteningly stated: “Absolutely the last person in the world I would’ve ever believed would do something like this.”
Many shocked admirers questioned why Bourdain took his own life, especially since he had previously indicated that he “had things to live for.”
Speculation arose that Bourdain’s outspoken views might have contributed to his death. For instance, when Argento disclosed being assaulted by Harvey Weinstein, a former film magnate who was ultimately convicted of numerous sexual offenses, Bourdain publicly supported her.
Bourdain, known for speaking his mind, was a vocal advocate of the #MeToo movement, using his public platform to condemn not only Weinstein, but also other celebrities accused of sexual misconduct.
Although many women thanked Bourdain for voicing their concerns, his actions likely antagonized influential individuals.
