Who Was MasterChef Australia Judge Jock Zonfrillo? How Did He Die?
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Alaina
- . May 1, 2023
- . Update: May 1, 2023 11:04 pm
Jock Zonfrillo, a Scottish-born award-winning chef and judge on MasterChef Australia, passed away at the age of 46 in Melbourne on April 30.
Jock started working in kitchens at the age of 12 and moved to Australia in the 1990s, where he opened several restaurants, including his most successful eatery Orana in 2013.
He joined MasterChef Australia as a guest judge in 2019 and became a co-host in 2020. He was due to appear in the show’s 15th season premiere, which was postponed following his death.
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Jock had a successful career, working with Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White in London and receiving numerous awards, including Australia’s highest culinary honor, the Order of Australia.
In his 2021 memoir, The Last Shot, Jock wrote about his struggles with drug addiction as a teenager in Scotland and how he overcame it as he rose in the culinary scene.
Jock is survived by his wife, Lauren Fried, and four children. Following the news of his death, former MasterChef Australia contestants and colleagues expressed their shock and sadness and shared their condolences with Jock’s family.
No cause of death has been given, but the Victoria Police said it was not being treated as suspicious. Jock’s family confirmed his death in a statement, calling him their “irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son, and friend.”
The statement also implored people to let them grieve privately and celebrated Jock’s life, saying “so many words can describe him, so many stories can be told.”
Jock Zonfrillo’s death is a loss for the culinary world and for MasterChef Australia, where he had become a beloved judge and co-host. His life and career are a testament to his passion for food and his perseverance in overcoming obstacles.
