Photo Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Morgan Spurlock, the acclaimed documentary filmmaker renowned for his groundbreaking film "Super Size Me," passed away on Thursday in New York at the age of 53 due to cancer complications. His brother, Craig Spurlock, announced the news, expressing, "It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked with him.”
Spurlock gained widespread recognition with his 2004 documentary "Super Size Me." The film documented a 30-day period during which Spurlock consumed only McDonald's food, highlighting the adverse effects of fast food on his physical and mental health. This experiment led to significant weight gain and health problems. "Super Size Me" was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005. The documentary's impact was profound, even leading McDonald's to discontinue its "super-size" option.
Spurlock's success with "Super Size Me" paved the way for a variety of other projects. He explored the consequences of corporate power in "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," the complexities of masculine identity in "Mansome," and delved into the U.S. War on Terror with "Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?" He also directed the 3D concert film "One Direction: This Is Us."
He also made significant contributions to television, creating and hosting "30 Days," an FX reality show that ran for three seasons and depicted individuals adopting different lifestyles for a month. Spurlock's other TV credits include nonfiction shows for Hulu and CNN.
Despite his professional achievements, Spurlock's career faced serious setbacks in 2017 when he published a blog post titled "I am Part of the Problem." In it, he admitted to a history of sexual misconduct and infidelity, significantly tarnishing his public image and leading to his resignation from his production company, Warrior Poets.
His final documentary work was marked by the “Super Size Me” sequel, "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" in 2017. In this sequel he opened a fast-food restaurant to critique the industry's rebranding efforts as healthier.
His family stated that memorial service arrangements would be announced soon.
