Celebrity chef and TV host Anthony Bourdain has died of an apparent suicide.

CNN announced the death to viewers. The 61-year-old was a gifted storyteller, writing a cult classic memoir on his time as a chef in New York City.

Bourdain went on to host travel and food shows "No Reservations" and "Parts Unknown."

Bourdain was in France working on an upcoming episode of his award-winning CNN series at the time of his death. He was found unresponsive in his hotel room this morning, according to CNN.

Bourdain was born in New York City and grew up in Leonia. According to some restaurant owners in New Jersey, Bourdain often returned to his roots.

Bourdain enjoyed hot dogs from Hiram's in Fort Lee when he was back in his old neighborhood.

"He always came by every couple years," said Dave Rosenberg, of Hiram's. "He loved our food and we're pretty much heartbroken that we lost a loyal customer and a great guy and a supporter of our business."

Bourdain was also a graduate of Dwight-Englewood High School.

His apparent suicide comes just days after designer Kate Spade took her own life. The CDC found that suicide rates have jumped nearly 30 percent nationally since 1999.

Mental health and relationship advisor Lisa Liberman-Wang says celebrities are not immune to these statistics.

"A lot of times with people that are more known as everything being great, they have a harder time asking for help because they're afraid of their image or what are people going to think," said Liberman-Wang.