Anthony Bourdain: No evidence of any foul play in celebrity chef's death, prosecutor says

French authorities say cook's apparent suicide in Kaysersberg hotel room was not planned

French prosecutors say they have found no evidence of foul play or violence in the death of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.

The famed cook, writer, and host of the CNN series Parts Unknown, is thought to have taken his own life in a hotel room in the village of Kaysersberg, around 45 miles south of Strasbourg.

Christian de Rocquigny the prosecutor of Colmar in France's eastern Alsace region, said there did not appear to be any signs of planning in the television personality’s suicide.

“There is no element that makes us suspect that someone came into the room at any moment,” he said, adding a medical expert had found no evidence of violence on Bourdain's body.

Mr Rocquigny said toxicology tests were being carried on the 61-year-old American’s body, including urine tests, to see if he had taken any medications or other drugs.

Olivier Nasti, the chef and owner of Le Chambard, the luxury hotel in Kaysersberg where Bourdain was found dead, paid tribute to his colleague.

“It is with great respect for the leader, the author, the TV entertainer, the visionary Anthony Bourdain that I express all my condolences to his family and to the anonymous people around the world who he made dream so much,” Mr Nasti said in a statement.

“It is the whole family of French gastronomy that joins me, to renew our deep friendship to our bereaved American brothers."

Tributes have poured in to Bourdain from celebrities and fans worldwide following his death on Friday.

His 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.

He went on to host television shows, first on the Food Network and the Travel Channel, before joining CNN in 2013.

Bourdain had been dating Italian actress Asia Argento, one of many women to make allegations of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein, claims the Hollywood producer denies.

His death was the second suspected suicide by a high-profile American personality within a week, after designer Kate Spade was found dead in her New York apartment on Tuesday.

Additional reporting by AP