'Stunned and saddened': Tributes pour in for Anthony Bourdain

Fans, friends and colleagues are reacting with shock and sadness to the news of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s death.

The 61-year-old Emmy Award-winning host of Parts Unknown was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Strasbourg, France, on Friday morning, CNN confirmed.

It is understood Bourdain took his own life.

“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.”

Remembrances have begun pouring in across social media.

Fellow celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was one of the first to express his disbelief, tweeting: “Shocked and saddened by the loss of Anthony Bourdain. He brought the world into our homes and inspired so many people to explore cultures and cities through their food.”

“This is utterly heartbreaking,” singer and actress Mandy Moore wrote. “Thank you for opening our eyes to parts of the world both cherished and unknown.”

Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston also paid tribute to Bourdain, noting that “success is not immune to depression. We all need to be more aware of our friends who are suffering.”

“Here is the thing … just one of the things that makes this so hard and confusing. Everyone wanted to be Anthony Bourdain,” CNN’s New Day anchor John Berman tweeted.

“I did. We all did.”

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Also taking to Twitter, actress Mia Farrow described Bourdain as “cool, fun, frank, insightful … He introduced us to distant lands and to people with different traditions.

“And without ever preaching, he reminded us that we humans are far more alike than different.”

“Heartbroken to hear about Tony Bourdain’s death,” Nigella Lawson tweeted.

“Unbearable for his family and girlfriend. Am going off Twitter for a while.”

Bourdain’s celebrity was such that when Obama went to Hanoi, Vietnam in May 2016, he met him at a casual restaurant for a $6 meal of noodles and grilled pork.

His death comes three days after American designer Kate Spade, who built a fashion empire on her signature handbags, was found dead in her New York apartment of suicide on Tuesday.

For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.