Ripert, who found Bourdain dead, told the New York Times: "Anthony was a dear friend. He was an exceptional human being so inspiring and generous. One of the great storytellers of our time who connected with so many. I wish him peace. My love and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones."

Christian De Rocquigny du Fayel, a prosecutor in the town of Colmar, said: "We've learned of the death… of this American chef this morning in a luxury hotel.

"At this stage nothing suggests the involvement of a third party," the prosecutor added, saying that "a doctor at the scene" had confirmed Bourdin's death and the method.

Paramedics made efforts to revive Mr Bourdin, before he was pronounced dead, according to CNN.

CNN President Jeff Zucker said in a company-wide email: "Tony was an exceptional talent. Tony will be greatly missed not only for his work but also for the passion with which he did it."

Bourdain was born in New York City in 1956, and was raised in New Jersey by Pierre Bourdain, a French music exeuctive and Gladys Bourdain, a staff editor at the New York Times.

He credited summers spent in France as a child with his obsession with food.

After dropping out of Vassar College after two years, Bourdain started working in restaurants on Cape Cod, eventually getting a degree from the Culinary Institute of America.

He went on to work in some of New York City's most famous restaurants such as the Supper Club, One Fifth Avenue and Sullivan's - before becoming the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles.

Bourdain's profile began to soar in 1999, when the New Yorker magazine published his article 'Don't Eat Before Reading This,' which he developed into the 2000 book, 'Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly'. The memoir also dealed with his struggles with drug abuse.

He then became a household name by hosting such shows as A Cook's Tour and No Reservations.

Bourdain's 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.

Celebrities, including Gordon Ramsay, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver, mourned Bourdain on Twitter.

US President Donald Trump told reporters Bourdain's death was "very sad" as he departed the White House for the G-7 summit.

Bourdain leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Ariane, from his second marriage to MMA fighter Ottavia Busia, which ended in 2016.

A late in life father, Bourdain talked adoringly of his only child. In an interview with People in February, Bourdain said that he felt "some responsibility"' to "at least try to live" since the birth of his daughter in 2007.

"There have been times, honestly, in my life that I figured, 'I've had a good run - why not just do this stupid thing, this selfish thing… jump off a cliff into water of indeterminate depth'," he said, referencing a thrill-seeking act he did for his former Travel Channel show, No Reservations.

"In retrospect, I don't know that I would do that today - now that I'm a dad or reasonably happy," he said.

Bourdain said he knew he was "going to pretty much die in the saddle" because he wouldn't ever retire.

"I gave up on that. I've tried. I just think I'm just too nervous, neurotic, driven," he said.

Suicide rates rose in nearly every U.S. state from 1999 to 2016, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday. Nearly 45,000 people committed suicide in 2016, making it one of three leading causes of death in the United States, along with Alzheimer's disease and drug overdoses.

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