Anne Burrell was a staple on Food Network, where she hosted, cooked and judged culinary competitions, sharing her exacting techniques and blunt persona with audiences and co-stars. After her sudden death Tuesday at age 55,

TV chef Anne Burrell, who coached culinary fumblers through hundreds of episodes of “Worst Cooks in America,” has died.

“With her trademark spiky blonde hair and sparkling personality, Anne Burrell was the hugely popular and fan favorite host of Food Network’s hit show, Worst Cooks in America,” a statement from her reps said. “Burrell was an industry veteran and passionate teacher who prided herself on her work in the culinary world.”