‘Julie Julia’ Food Writer Julie Powell Dies at 49 in Her Home — Her Cause of Death Is Revealed

• “Julie & Julia” author Julie Powell dies at 49 at home, leaving her husband lonely.

• Julie Powell’s cause of death was revealed by her spouse of 24 years.

• Julie and her husband had ups and downs in their relationship, yet she praised him and honored their marriage.

Julie Powell, of “Julie and Julia,” has passed away at the age of 49. Julie was a food writer who cooked over 500 of Julia Child’s recipes over 365 days and founded the blog “The Julia Child Project.”

She was also the inspiration behind the movie “Julie and Julia,” starring Meryl Streep. Her husband confirmed on November 1, 2022, that she had passed away at her home in Olivebridge, New York.

Julie Powell arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere of “Julie & Julia” at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California on July 27, 2009 | Source: Getty Images

Powell’s husband mentioned that she went into cardiac arrest, which was her cause of death on October 26, 2022. She is survived by her husband, brother, and parents. Her editor shared a statement saying:

“We mourn her loss with her husband, Eric, and her family. We are sending our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Julie, whether personally or through the deep connections she forged with the readers of her memoirs.”

ulie Powell attends a screening of “Julie and Julia” at the Paley Center For Media on August 4, 2009 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

While her editor mentioned their love for Powell and the mourning period they were suffering, Powell’s husband did not comment other than to let the world know that his wife of 24 years had passed away.

Who Was Powell and How Did She Reach Success?

While Powell is now well-known for her work on “The Julie/Julia Project,” a blog she dedicated to trying out 524 of Julia Child’s recipes from the 1960s, Powell was not always a writer or a household name.

Julie Powell attends the “Cleaving” book signing at the Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle in New York City on December 4, 2009 | Source: Getty Images

Powell started out as an administrative worker in 2002 when she whipped out her mother’s copy of Julia Child’s cookbook to try and fill her time with something meaningful to her and add structure to her life.

Soon, her blog reached over 400 thousand page views, and she was well on her way to building her own brand. During that time, she also wrote the book: “Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, which sold more than a million copies.

While a movie adaptation of the book was forthcoming, Powell initially focused on the success of her blog and book. Talking about what each of them meant to her, she said:

“At the end of the project, I had managed to do something so much bigger than I thought I was capable of.”

Julie Powell attends the “Julie and Julia Film Premiere” at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on City on July 30, 2009 | Source: Getty Images

Millions of people worldwide began to take notice of Powell, and by the time the film adaptation of her book was released, she was a household name. She had built a brand and a career that she did not have before.

Powell often spoke about not realizing the impact her blog would have on the world, but she also acknowledged that she did not know the impact the blog and the subsequent success would have on her.

Julie Powell attends TimesTalk at TheTimesCenter on May 7, 2010 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Julia Child unknowingly changed the trajectory of Powell’s life. Talking about how the blog changed her life and what Julia Child and her cooking ended up meaning to her, Powell admitted:

“Not just the recipes. I had turned into a writer; I had a tone. I think really what Julia Child does it’s not just about teaching us to cook. It’s about teaching us to be brave, to jump into things.”

Powell also changed the landscape of food blogging and modern home cooking. Now, 20 years after she found success in the field, she has passed on and left a legacy that nobody will soon forget.

What Was Julie Powell’s Relationship With Her Husband Like?

Powell and her husband met in high school when they played leading roles in a theatre play. The couple married in 1998, but trouble soon arose when it was revealed that Powell was having an affair.

Julie Powell attends the “Cleaving” book signing at the Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle in New York City on December 4, 2009 | Source: Getty Images

Her husband, in turn, had an affair as well, both of which she discussed in her 2009 book “Cleaving, A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession.” After the book was published, Powell and her husband decided to keep their lives more private.

Powell said that she and her husband decided to stay together and work through their issues as she realized that marriage was difficult and not what she initially thought it would be. However, she mentioned that she published the book with her husband’s blessing.

Now, so many years after the scandals broke, Powell has left her husband behind, who is said to be saddened by her death. Rest in peace to the woman who brought back the popularity of home cooking and fame back to Julia Child‘s cookbooks.