Food Network has become one of TV's signature outlets and has turned charismatic chefs into
some of the most famous people in America. Hundreds of chefs have helped bolster Food
Network, but sadly, many of them have died. Here are some notable Food Network names who we have
already lost. Floyd Cardos was best known for winning season 3 of Bravo's Legends Only
Top Chef Masters in 2011. He was a regular on Food Network, where he appeared frequently on
Chef Du Jour, judged on Worst Cooks in America, and went head-to-head with Bobby Flay on Iron
Chef America. Cardo's was also extremely influential. His restaurants and cookbooks helped popularize Indian food in the United States and elevated the cuisine to the heights
of fine dining. In 2020, Cardo's opened an Indian-inspired treat store called Bombay Sweet
Shop, and he'd just taped an appearance in India for chef David Chang's Netflix series
ugly delicious. Not long after his return, however, Cardo's tested positive for COVID-19
Complications from the novel coronavirus would claim the life of the chef
and in March 2020, he died at the age of 59. Fatima Ali moved from her native Pakistan to the United States in order to attend culinary school
After working as a sous chef at New York City's Cafe Centro, Ali won an episode of Chopped in 2012
and competed on Bravo's Top Chef in 2017. A short time after, Ali was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma
a rare type of cancer that affects the bone or soft tissue, and was given one year to live
Ali continued to cook, stayed active on Instagram, and appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
In January 2019, Ali died. The news was delivered on Instagram by her friend and fellow chef Bruce
Coleman. Ali was 29. Carrie Simon looked and acted the part of a rock star, with a mane of cascading locks and
catering to a clientele that included numerous frontmen and guitar heroes, according to Rolling
Stone, who christened him the Rock and Roll Chef, in the 90s. Simon placed a private table
in the kitchen of the Edwardian Room and invited the likes of Debbie Harry and David Crosby
to dine. Additionally, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry considered Simon a close friend. Simon's
career trajectory followed that of a rock star, but with food. He headed to Las Vegas and opened
restaurants there. He also became a hit on TV, appearing on Iron Chef America on multiple
occasions In 2013 with his career flourishing Simon was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy a form of Parkinson disease that is uncommon progressive and fatal The condition took Simon life in 2015 at the age of 60
After debuting on the BBC in the United Kingdom and then the Food Network in the United States
two fat ladies both delighted and concerned viewers. Ignoring the healthy eating trends
of the 90s, hosts Clarissa Dixon-Wright and Jennifer Patterson shamelessly went heavy on
cream, butter, and other fatty ingredients over four seasons of their cooking show
Who can resist the aphrodisiac of chocolate pie? Two Fat Ladies was also memorable for its premise of Wright and Patterson traveling around England
to cook their large, fattening meals in exotic locations. The opening sequence showed animated
versions of the hosts traveling via motorcycle, an attached sidecar. Patterson became ill while
shooting the fourth season of Two Fat Ladies, and in July 1999 was diagnosed with lung cancer
She died in August of that year at age 71. Then, in 2014, Wright died in a hospital in
Scotland after a brief illness. She was 66. Judson Todd Allen appeared on Season 8 of Food Network Star in 2012 with both a compelling
backstory and notable cooking approach. He'd lost about 200 pounds and learned to cook
foods that were healthy but still flavorful. Allen went on to become a private chef for
celebrities like Jamie Foxx and Steve Harvey. The self-proclaimed architect of flavor also
ran a nutrition-first catering company called Healthy Infused Cuisine and launched his own
hot sauce. He served as the head chef of the Chicago restaurant Taste 222, which opened
in May 2017. Just one year after reaching that career milestone, Allen suffered an apparent
heart attack and died. He was 36. After receiving classical training and working in many restaurants in his native New Jersey
Carl Ruiz and his wife at the time opened Marie's Italian Specialties. Guy Fieri popped
in for a meal, and the place was so, quote, freakishly busy that Ruiz put Fieri to work
on the sandwich prep line. Not long after, Fieri returned with his diners, drive-ins
and Dives crew in 2013, launching Ruiz's long association with Food Network. He appeared on
Triple D twice more and made regular appearances on Fieri's Guy's Ranch Kitchen. He also served as a
judge, mentor, and contestant on Guy's Grocery Games. While visiting friends in Maryland in
September 2019, Ruiz died in his sleep. A medical examiner's office later determined that the chef
Chef died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease He was 44 Fieri tweeted Jessica Vogel built an impressive resume before she went before the cameras She trained at
Johnson & Wales University in Denver, then headed home to New Jersey and worked at Kevin's Time
She also served as a pastry chef at Grange & Picnic in the Square
and was the executive chef of Black Rebel Burger. In 2014, Vogel appeared on season 12 of Fox's Hell's Kitchen, finishing in 12th place
Two years later, Vogel moved over to Food Network, competing on a chocolate-themed episode of Alton Brown's culinary game show
Cutthroat Kitchen. I feel so good and dirty and ripe. Professionally, Vogel was successful, but personally, she struggled
She had issues with drug and alcohol addiction and sought treatment at a rehabilitation facility
According to her family, substance abuse took a toll on Vogel's body
While hospitalized due to a bout of colitis in 2018, Vogel's heart stopped and she died at the age of 34
Christy Schoen-Codd was raised in the South and was exposed to regional cooking styles early
She learned to cook Cajun cuisine and incorporated elements of European food
which she learned when she studied abroad in Germany. That helped Codd win a spot on the
competition series Food Network Star in 2012, where she was the first contestant eliminated
that year. Nevertheless, Codd had ascended the celebrity chef ladder and planned on opening a
New Orleans cafe. She catered the production of the sci-fi movie Ender's Game and was pitching
two food shows. But neither show was ever produced, owing in part to the tragic death of Codd
Cod, who was five months pregnant at the time, and her husband were reported missing from
their home in March 2015. Soon after, Robert James Owens confessed to murdering the couple, then staging what looked
like a botched home invasion and robbery. Born in Somerset, England, Keith Floyd built up his skills by cooking for officers in the Army
Floyd eventually opened three restaurants in Bristol. he was discovered by a producer, and he made the BBC shows Floyd on Fish and Floyd on Food
He published more than 20 popular cookbooks and starred on numerous culinary shows for
the Food Network UK. Floyd was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2009. Later that year
he died of a heart attack after a large lunch in honor of his partner's 65th birthday
Floyd was 65 years old Ken Kostick created and co in the Canadian cable TV show What for Dinner with co Mary Jo Eustace They joke and tease each other and also prepare dishes in
the built-in cooking program. A two-time nominee for the Gemini Awards, Kostick also published
15 cookbooks, including The $10 Gourmet, and had his own line of cookware. Kostick would team up
with Eustace again on various TV and radio projects, while his cooking-oriented variety
show, Ken Kostick & Company, became one of the first and signature shows upon the launch
of Food Network Canada. In 2011, Kostick was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis
While recovering at home after treatment, he suffered a complication and died
Kostick was 57. After winning the second season of Superstar Chef on Food Network Canada, Anthony Sedlak
was awarded his own series, The Main, which ran for four seasons. Sedlak also published
a 2011 cookbook, The Main, Recipes, and served as a judge on Family Cook-Off. In 2012, Sedlak
appeared on Anna and Christina's Grocery Bag on OWN and then popped up on You Gotta Eat
Here for Food Network Canada. In July 2012, Sedlak collapsed from what the chef's family
said was a, quote, undiagnosed medical condition, and later that day, his body was discovered in
his apartment. The British Columbia Coroner's Report ruled that the TV personality died from
an intentional drug overdose. Sedlak, who had represented Canada at the World Junior Chef
Challenge and worked at a Michelin-starred restaurant, was 29 years old at the time of death
Anthony Bourdain eventually became one of the most worshipped names in food entertainment
After working in New York restaurants in the 80s, Bourdain exploded onto the national stage
in 2000 with the publication of his salacious cooking memoir, Kitchen Confidential, Adventures
in the Culinary Underbelly. In 2002, the Food Network debuted A Cook's Tour, Bourdain's first
food-based travelogue. It ran for just 35 episodes before Bourdain moved onto the Travel Channel
and later CNN to make popular shows like No Reservations, The Layover, and Parts Unknown
In June 2018, Bourdain was discovered in his hotel room in Kaiserberg, France
Authorities say that the chef took his own life. Bourdain was 61. If you or someone you know is
having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741