Who Is Nancy Putkoski, Anthony Bourdain’s First Wife?

Nancy Putkoski (born April 8, 1955; Age: 69 years old) is the ex-wife of Anthony Bourdain, the popular late television personality, documentarian, and celebrity chef to whom she was married for up to two decades.

When the tragic news of Anthony Bourdain’s death reached the public, many people thought he left behind his estranged wife, Ottavia Busia-Bourdain, and his daughter, Ariane Bourdain. But on the contrary, he had an ex-wife somewhere who was probably also hurt that he had committed suicide. Here is what there is to know about Nancy Putkoski, Anthony Bourdain’s first wife.

Nancy Putkoski Was Born And Raised In New Jersey

Nancy Putkoski was born on April 8, 1955, in Fort Lee, the center of New Jersey, where she was also raised. Aside from her birthday and birthplace, we have little or no information about her and what childhood was like for her.

But we know that at the secondary school level, Nancy Putkoski attended Dwight-Englewood School, a private, college-prep school in New Jersey. After graduating, she moved to Poughkeepsie, New York, where she enrolled at Vassar College, an institute for liberal arts, where she received her certificate in 1978.

Nancy Putkoski and Anthony Bourdain Met In High School

Both Nancy and Anthony attended Dwight-Englewood School, where they graduated in 1974. Anthony fell head over heels for her in high school, and on many occasions, he termed himself “smitten” with Nancy.

The award-winning chef explained that she was a year ahead of him while in secondary school but that wouldn’t let that hinder his bold ambition. She graduated, and he did too; he convinced his parents and school to let him go to college one year earlier in a bid to keep chasing his ex-wife.

She enrolled at Vassar (founded in 1861 as Vassar College), which was regarded as a prestigious institute meant for women. However (and luckily for Bourdain), around that time, that policy of gender was reversed, and Vassar started admitting male students, howbeit they started with very few male students – compared with the female students.

He got into university at 17, and being around so many girls was quite weird. He was a naive, unrefined, and raw young boy amongst many females. He had built a reputation in high school and was called a bad boy, and he always roamed around with the not-so-good clique. The trend continued in college as he became a “lady’s man.”

After achieving his reason for attending Vassar (capturing Nancy’s heart), he soon changed his mind about the school. After two years at the college, he decided to switch to a nearby Culinary institute. He registered at the Culinary Institute of America. However, it was only a 15-minute drive away from Putkoski.

She Could Not Deal With Anthony Bourdain’s Fame

As at the time Nancy Putkoski and Anthony started dating, the latter was not famous, and she was content with being with him that way. Before Anthony Bourdain got to be who we know him as today, he had a successful marriage with Putkoski. Unfortunately, we do not have details about when they got married and what their wedding was like.

Some years into their marriage, the late celebrity cook was offered a TV contract, as his best-selling cookbook “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,” published in 2000, had skyrocketed him to the cover page of NY food magazines and posters.

But even with all this success, Nancy wasn’t moved. She complained that his growing popularity would become a problem for their marriage in the future, but he didn’t agree with her idea, so he scuffed it aside and continued on his quest to stardom.

The late cookbook author eventually started to feel the effects of the weight Hollywood puts on you. Busy with international meetings, travels, and collaboration episodes here and there, he started to neglect the one person he said “I do” to.

Nancy Putkoski Divorced Anthony Bourdain In 2005

Nancy Putkoski’s suspicion wasn’t just a suspicion in the end, as it turned out to be a prophecy. His newfound fame was responsible for straining their relationship, and it ultimately reached its breaking point as his career goals boomerang on him. The relationship Nancy spent the better part of three decades building with Anthony crumbled in less than five years.

The fans of Parts Unknown, a travel documentary hosted by the late Anthony Bourdain, enjoyed the show, but Nancy didn’t; she wanted her husband back home while her husband was desperate for more. He was overambitious, while she preferred his presence over fame and money.

Their differences grew into incompatibility, incompatibility into estrangement, and then divorce in 2005. Even after so many years of being divorced from Nancy, in 2017, the late celebrity chef still spoke about her and the love they shared. It was so obvious that he appreciated the years they spent together and the love they shared.

Did They Have Any Kids Together?

Even though these high school lovebirds were officially married for about 20 years, they didn’t have any kids together. The reason for this was that the late Anthony Bourdain did not want kids until he was up to age 50. The late celebrity disclosed in a statement on his 50th birthday that he had finally reached the age where he was sure he could take responsibility for someone else – financially and emotionally.

Even After Anthony Died, Nancy Still Stayed Away From The Media

Her decision to steer clear of the limelight, no matter the form, is something she hasn’t bulged about. To the point that, in the light of her ex-husband’s tragic death in 2018, she made no effort to make an appearance in the TV project made in honor of her late ex-husband dubbed Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.

Did Nancy Putkoski Remarry?

We aren’t 100% sure about this since we haven’t seen her, talk more about knowing information about her current marital status and love life. But most likely, she’s in a beach house somewhere with her new boyfriend or husband or living a quiet life somewhere.

Where is Anthony Bourdain’s First Wife Now?

The ex-celebrity wife, Nancy Putkoski, was not one to go head over heels for tv time. She wasn’t thrilled by the spotlight her husband had created during his career. She was rarely seen with him at events or occasions. Currently, she is like a ghost to the media, with no trace of her anywhere. No social media presence of any sort, so nobody knows what she’s up to.

We never know who she was, her occupation, or anything. However, her late husband, Anthony Bourdain, did say that she had a strong love for arts and music. She just might have done something in the field, but we don’t know for sure. She is probably enjoying her privacy.