The Life and Legacy of Jock Zonfrillo: From Addiction to Acclaimed Chef

MasterChef Australia judge, Jock Zonfrillo, lived a colourful life that was far from plain. Born in Glasgow, he battled with drug addiction which he once likened to a scene from the movie Trainspotting. He also revealed that most of his friends from that time were ‘dead or in jail’. Despite struggling with anxiety at various stages of his life, Zonfrillo packed plenty into his life by losing his virginity poolside in Yugoslavia aged 12 and opening up his restaurant Orana which won awards across the world in 2017. However, tragically, the 46-year-old father of four was found dead in a hotel room in Carlton, Melbourne, at 2am on Monday, 1 May, 2023. Zonfrillo attributed his success to living everyday outside of his comfort zone, despite struggling with anxiety at times. He even carried worry beads with him to keep him calm. In 2014, his secret battle with addiction was exposed by a journalist and he realized that his addiction would be known to all. However, it also gave him a sense of freedom, allowing him to be remarkably frank about the life he’d led overseas.