#Showbiz: New documentary on Bourdain reveals highs and lows of his life

KUALA LUMPUR: The late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain's rise to fame and tragic death is explored in a brand new documentary made by his Oscar-winning filmmaker friend.

South China Morning Post reported yesterday that Morgan Neville, who won an Oscar for his 2013 documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, was drawn to Bourdain's non-conformist lifestyle, open-mindedness and passion for life.

Neville's film Roadrunner premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, the United States on June 11.

It looks into the highs and lows of the celebrity chef and television host who travelled around the world, gained a massive following, but committed suicide three years ago.

"Anthony told me, there is no happy ending, but that does not mean you cannot have fun along the way.

"He was a great guy, a champion of the small man who tried to open people's minds and show the world to them, and spread the message that we are all the same," said Neville.

"He was an ambassador of humanity who broke down barriers of food, culture and politics."

Neville tapped Bourdain's on-screen work, including A Cook's Tour, his popular travelogue on The Food Network, No Reservations on Travel Channel, and Parts Unknown on CNN in order to produce the documentary film.

He also conducted interviews with people who worked with Bourdain on those shows, as well as the chef's family members and friends.

"Roadrunner has all the happy moments of Anthony's life, his rise to fame, as well as his struggle with depression and drugs.

"Anthony was very open about his life journey. He talked about being addicted to drugs and work. I feel that his obsessions kept him going but also became bad for his health," said Neville.

The director regretted that Bourdain never sought help for his problems, and that proved disastrous.

"Addiction will get the better of you if you don't seek help. We all wish he went to rehab, he could have been saved."

Neville also said that Bourdain did not judge others, and was always honest and generous.

"He had this Zen quality that made him a very special person. Despite being a star, he never took himself seriously."

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