Howard Kleinberg dead: Top Chef personality dies after heart attack at the age of 46

Howard 'Howie' Kleinberg - best known for his time on Bravo's Top Chef - has died following a heart attack, his mother has confirmed

Howie Kleinberg has died

Image: Bravo/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

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Howard 'Howie' Kleinberg has died aged 46 at after suffering a heart attack.

The chef was best known for being part of the third season of Bravo's television series Top Chef.

His mother Susan confirmed his death, saying he died at the weekend following the medical event.

She told the Miami Herald : "He was married to his passion in life, which was his cooking.

"I am just finding out how many lives he touched."

After the news broke, Bravo also issued a statement, saying: "The Top Chef family is saddened to learn about the unexpected passing of Howard Kleinberg from season three.

"Howie’s passion for cooking filled so many and our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends."

The Floria-Born chef was regularly a part of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and run the Miami-based restaurant called Bulldog Barbecue.

The Miami New Times reported that he had ran the restaurant for a decade before moving to the Anderson as an executive chef.

He had opened the establishment shortly after his appearance on Top Chef, in which he came seventh place.

During his time on the show he won two elimination challenges.

The restaurant was inspired by his love of barbecue food and summer days.

Following the news of his death, fans of the chef and the TV series took to social media to send messages of condolence.

Ken Lyon, owner of the Anderson, told Miami New Times he'll remember Howie as a talented chef and a wonderful personality.

The restaurateur had worked with Howie's mother, Susan, a local event planner, after moving to Miami and said: "I didn't know him that well before, but we ended up working together when we reopened the Anderson.

Chef Howie Kleinberg prepares food at Goya Foods' Swine & Wine

Image:

( Getty Images North America)

"We got to work together for a year, and I'm so fortunate to have had that time with him."

He continued: "What I can say from cooking alongside him is that he was a real barbecue champion — definitely one of the most talented people in the barbecue business that I've come across."

Howard is survived by mother Susan Kleinberg Ratner and stepfather Ken Ratner as well as his sister Amy Wildstein and her three children.

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