Morgan Spurlock, the documentary filmmaker renowned for his Oscar-nominated 2004 feature "Super Size Me," passed away Thursday in upstate New York due to cancer complications at the age of 53.
His family confirmed his death. Craig Spurlock, his brother who collaborated with him on several projects, expressed his grief, saying, "It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him."
Spurlock gained fame with "Super Size Me," where he documented the psychological and physical effects of eating only McDonald’s food for 30 days. His experiment included a rule that he couldn't refuse the "super-size" option if offered and that he would exercise less to match the average American's activity level. By the end of the month, Spurlock claimed to have gained 25 pounds and experienced depression and liver dysfunction.
"Super Size Me" resonated with audiences upon its 2004 release, earning $22 million worldwide and sparking significant discourse about the fast food industry's role in poor nutrition. Following the documentary's release, McDonald’s discontinued its "super-size" option. Despite its popularity as an educational tool, the documentary has faced criticism regarding its accuracy, particularly because Spurlock never publicly shared his diet log. Spurlock later revealed he struggled with alcohol abuse, which some believe could have influenced his liver dysfunction claims.
Born on November 7, 1970, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Spurlock was raised Methodist but identified as agnostic later in life. He graduated with a BFA in film from New York University in 1993.
Over the next 13 years, Spurlock achieved further success with his production company, Warrior Poets, producing and directing nearly 70 documentaries and TV series. His work often tackled controversial and topical issues, including the U.S. war in Afghanistan ("Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden"), minimum wage and immigrant labor ("30 Days"), consumer susceptibility to marketing ("The Greatest Movie Ever Sold"), trophy hunting and body modification ("7 Deadly Sins"), elder care and gambling ("Morgan Spurlock Inside Man"), and corporate pressure on family farms ("Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!").
In December 2017, amid the #MeToo movement, Spurlock posted a lengthy social media confession, admitting to serial infidelities, settling a sexual harassment claim, and being accused of rape in college. This confession effectively ended his documentary career, leading to his resignation from Warrior Poets shortly thereafter.
Spurlock is survived by his two children, Laken and Kallen; his mother, Phyllis Spurlock; his father, Ben (Iris); his brothers, Craig (Carolyn) and Barry (Buffy); several nieces and nephews; and his former spouses, Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein.