When Anthony Bourdain wrote an article in the late '90s about "the seamier secrets of life in the restaurant business," as the New York Times put it, no one was interested.
So his mother stepped in to help.
Gladys Bourdain worked at the Times and knew reporter Esther Fein, who just happened to be married to the editor of the New Yorker magazine.
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“She came over, and she said, ‘You know, your husband’s got this new job,’” Fein told the Times on Monday. “‘I hate to sound like a pushy mom, but I’m telling you this with my editor’s hat on, not my mother’s hat on. It’s really good, and it’s really interesting, but nobody will look at it, nobody will call him back or give it a second look. Could you put it in your husband’s hands?’”
David Remnick read the article, and the magazine published it under the title "Don't Eat Before Reading This." Anthony Bourdain later said that he had a book deal in a matter of days. He later starred in the TV shows "Parts Unknown" and "The Layover," one episode of which was in Atlanta.
Gladys Bourdain, who helped launch her son’s career, died Friday in the Bronx, New York, the Times reported. She was 85. Her son Christopher, who said she’d been in declining health for a while, confirmed her death.
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Her death comes 18 months after her famous chef son committed suicide at 61.
Gladys Bourdain, who said she was never a fan of her son's tattoos, honored him by getting "Tony" tattooed in small letters on the inside of her wrist.
Gladys Sacksman was born in Manhattan on Oct. 19, 1934. She married Pierre Bourdain in 1954, but they separated in 1980. In addition to her son Christopher Bourdain, she is survived by three grandchildren.
