Was Anthony Bourdain Ever Married? His Marriages Explained

Anthony Bourdain was married twice during his life. While millions knew him as the sharp-tongued, globetrotting host of Parts Unknown and No Reservations, his personal life involved two long-term marriages before his tragic death in 2018.

The first marriage was to his high school sweetheart, Nancy Putkoski, lasting over two decades. The second was to mixed martial artist and businesswoman Ottavia Busia, with whom he shared a daughter, Ariane. Understanding his marital history reveals how his personal relationships evolved alongside his meteoric rise in the culinary and television worlds.

First Marriage: Nancy Putkoski (1985–2005)

Long before television fame, best-selling memoirs, or international travel, Bourdain married Nancy Putkoski in 1985. They met during their high school years at Dwight-Englewood School in New Jersey.

Putkoski was a stabilizing presence during the most volatile years of Bourdain's early career. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Bourdain worked grueling hours as a line cook and executive chef in New York City kitchens, battling severe drug and alcohol addiction. Putkoski stood by him through these turbulent times, including the period leading up to the publication of his breakout memoir, Kitchen Confidential, in 2000, which launched him into sudden literary stardom.

As Bourdain's career shifted from kitchen stations to television production—first with A Cook's Tour on the Food Network—the constant travel began to strain the marriage. By 2004, the couple had separated, and their divorce was finalized in 2005. They did not have children together.

Second Marriage: Ottavia Busia (2007–2016)

Following his divorce from Putkoski, Bourdain met Ottavia Busia in 2007. Busia was a professional martial artist, MMA practitioner, and restaurant manager in New York City. Their shared passion for food, martial arts, and high-intensity living brought them together quickly.

They married in April 2007 in a quiet ceremony, and just a few weeks later, on April 9, 2007, they welcomed their daughter, Ariane Bourdain.

Family Life and Jiu-Jitsu

During his marriage to Busia, Bourdain's public persona softened slightly, often revolving around fatherhood. He frequently spoke about how fatherhood altered his perspective on travel, safety, and longevity. Busia and Bourdain shared a dedication to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, often training together while traveling or at home in New York.

However, the relentless travel schedule required by CNN's Parts Unknown meant Bourdain spent up to 250 days a year away from home.

Separation and Amicable Divorce

By 2016, Bourdain and Busia quietly separated after nine years of marriage. Unlike many celebrity splits, their separation was entirely amicable. They realized that their demanding careers and lifestyle differences had turned them into touring partners rather than a traditional married couple.

In interviews following the split, both emphasized that their primary focus remained raising their daughter, Ariane. Busia noted that they remained close friends, regularly communicating and coordinating parenting duties despite the physical distance.

Relationships After Divorce

Following his divorce from Busia, Bourdain began a relationship with Italian actress Asia Argento, whom he met while filming an episode of Parts Unknown in Rome in 2016. The relationship lasted until Bourdain's death by suicide in June 2008 while filming in France. While they were a prominent couple in the public eye, they were never married.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Anthony Bourdain have children?

Yes. He had one daughter, Ariane Bourdain, born in 2007 with his second wife, Ottavia Busia.

How long was Anthony Bourdain married to Nancy Putkoski?

They were married for 20 years, from 1985 until their separation and eventual divorce in 2005.

Was Asia Argento his wife?

No. Asia Argento was Bourdain's partner in the final years of his life, but they were never married.

Why did Anthony Bourdain's second marriage end?

The demanding filming schedule of his travel television shows—which kept him away from home for more than eight months a year—put an insurmountable strain on the relationship, leading to an amicable separation in 2016.