What Anthony Bourdain's Final Year Was Like

Despite an ongoing battle with addiction and mental illness, Anthony Bourdain consistently inspired people in many ways. He taught viewers how to properly explore different parts of the world, he championed women's voices, and he revealed what it takes to deliver a picturesque plate of food, to name a few. This is what the last 12 months of Anthony Bourdain's life were like.

In the year before Bourdain died, he was doing what he did for the majority of his previous 15 years - traveling and eating delicious food. His travel show career started with A Cook's Tour on the Food Network, followed by No Reservations and The Layover. His most famous show, CNN's Parts Unknown, aired its 12th and final season in 2018.

The season premiered with a trip to a place Bourdain had surprisingly never been, Kenya, and was co-hosted by CNN colleague W. Kamau Bell, who was just happy to be invited. According to Variety, Bell said,

"It felt like I won a contest."

Bell wrote in a CNN Travel post that he'd hang out with the crew after filming, adding,

"I was - and still am - in awe of him. It is one thing to be an experienced and gracious world traveler. It is another thing to be a writer who can seemingly easily, humorously, and profoundly sum up the human experience."

In a particularly special point in the episode, Bourdain shared some perspective with Bell about how he feels about his life and career, saying,

"As soon as the cameras turn off. I f---ing pinch myself. I can't believe I get to do this."

In a 2016 interview with Biography, Bourdain revealed,

"I should've died in my 20s. I became successful in my 40s. I became a dad in my 50s. I feel like I've stolen a car - a really nice car - and I keep looking in the rear-view mirror for flashing lights. But there's been nothing yet."

#AnthonyBourdain

12th season | 0:00
Fighting addiction | 1:16
In love | 2:28
MeToo | 3:22
Writing a book | 4:31
Absolutely exhausted | 5:31
Suffering with depression | 6:27
Relationship rules | 7:30
Inspiring millions | 8:12
Final night | 9:05

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