When he wasn’t on the screen serving as judge on MasterChef Australia, Jock Zonfrillo was at home with his beautiful wife and kids. He was known for being a loving and proud family man before his untimely death in May 2023.
WATCH: Masterchef’s Andy, Melissa & Jock chat to WHO
In an exclusive chat with WHO, last year, the celebrity chef couldn’t help but gush over his wife Lauren Fried.
“I’d never believed in love at first sight until I met her,” Jock told us. “She just swept me off my feet in such an unsuspecting way as well.”
“And then us having kids together just made that family bond even better,” Jock explained, adding that living in Australia has had a real “positive influence”.
“Having the family life is brilliant for me.”
Jock married his wife on New Year’s Day 2017. They share two children together, six-year-old Alfie, and two-year-old daughter Isla.
Jock is also survived by two teenage daughters, Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages.
While he eventually found love with Lauren, Jock was the first to admit that his previous drug use, combined with the antisocial hours and hospitality industry’s intense culture, had a significant impact on his personal relationships.
“After having made a lot of mistakes in my first two marriages, and I’ve got these amazing children in my family from those two marriages, and my third wife Loz, we became just an instant family,” he told WHO.
Late last year, Jock and Lauren celebrated their wedding anniversary, with the Chef taking to Instagram to share sweet words about his wife.
“Every time I look at this picture of our wedding day I remember just how lucky I am to have found you,” he penned.
“From the second you tipped your hat and flashed that smile at me when we first met I knew that my world shifted, nothing would be the same again, that this moment was simply just meant to be,” he continued.
He added: “I just can’t imagine a life without you & I’m so grateful to share a life with such an epic woman, leader, business women & mamma. I’m a better man, a prouder father and I hope a better husband.”
Jock also credited his family for helping him deal with his mental health, saying that nothing dials back his anxiety like spending quality time with his family.
“Rolling around in the carpet, playing with LEGO or cars with the kids or whatever – that for me definitely reduces my anxiety,” he explained.
“I think it’s a super effective tool and I don’t know if that’s because you feel more love and everything at the time and that’s what helps.”
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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