Halloween Baking Championship season 11 came to a close on October 27 with the final four bakers competing to take home the $25,000 grand prize and title of Halloween Baking Champion. It was an amazing episode that concluded with nurse and home baker Melanie Bjork-Jensen walking away with the win after an emotional final bake.
After watching Melanie crowned the winner of season 11 following a cake dedicated to overcoming crushing self-doubts in an emotional season ending episode, the finale ended on an emotional moment of another kind. Following the episode, Food Network paid tribute to a beloved member of the Halloween Baking Championship family.
The tribute was designed to celebrate the late Luke Conklin, who served as the Head of Casting for Halloween Baking Championship. Accompanied by a photo of Conklin, Food Network honored the late Conklin as a devoted husband, loving father, fearless leader, and cherished friend.
Conklin sadly passed away on May 12, 2025, following a 13-month battle with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
“Luke approached life the same way he approached his illness—with strength, passion, and fierce determination. He fought with everything he had, all while continuing to be the incredible husband, father, friend, and colleague that so many cherished,” Conklin’s loved ones wrote in a GoFundMe page set up in his honor.
“Professionally, Luke was deeply respected in the world of television, known for his work as Head of Casting on many well-known reality and game shows. He brought intelligence, creativity, and an unmatched work ethic to his craft. Personally, he was the friend who always showed up, the teammate who pushed you to be better, and the person who made you feel seen and supported,” the page continued.
While the Halloween Baking Championship season 11 finale dedication exclusively mentioned Conklin’s work on Halloween Baking Championship, the show was one of many well-known reality shows Conklin worked on. Conklin was involved in the broader Baking Championship franchise, helping to bring in the many amazing bakers we’ve had the pleasure of watching compete across the franchise’s various seasons.
Among the many shows Conklin worked on was fellow Food Network hit Guy’s Grocery Games and iconic game shows including Beat Shazam, Deal or No Deal, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Password, Press Your Luck, and Wheel of Fortune. His contributions to the shows helped hundreds of individuals get the chance to chase their dreams, be it by showing off their baking and cooking skills in Food Network shows, or competing for life-changing prizes on some of TV’s biggest game shows.
On behalf of the FoodSided team, our thoughts are with Conklin’s loved ones and the entire Food Network family.