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| Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com |
Morgan Spurlock, a documentary filmmaker renowned for documenting his own psychological and physical symptoms after eating McDonald’s every day for a month in the Oscar-nominated 2004 film “Super Size Me,” passed away Thursday in upstate New York due to complications from cancer. He was 53.
Spurlock’s family confirmed his passing.
“It was a sad day as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” said Craig Spurlock, who collaborated with Morgan on several projects. “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 with him.”
Spurlock rose to prominence with “Super Size Me,” an experiment where he consumed only McDonald's food for 30 days. The rules required him to accept the “super-size” option whenever offered. To mirror the average American's lifestyle, he also reduced his physical activity. By the end of the experiment, Spurlock reported gaining 25 pounds and experiencing depression and liver dysfunction.
"Super Size Me" made a significant impact upon its release in 2004, earning $22 million globally and initiating a dialogue about how the fast food industry contributes to poor nutrition among the public. Following its release, McDonald's phased out its "super-size" option. While the documentary continues to be used as an educational tool in some school health classes, it has also stirred controversy over its accuracy in the years since. Critics have questioned the validity of the film, pointing to Spurlock's reluctance to publicly share his diet log during filming. Additionally, Spurlock later revealed his struggle with alcohol abuse, leading some to speculate that this could have influenced the documentary's conclusions regarding liver dysfunction.
Born on November 7, 1970, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Spurlock was initially raised within the Methodist faith, although he later identified as agnostic. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film from New York University in 1993.
In the 13 years following the release of “Super Size Me,” Spurlock achieved further success through his production company, Warrior Poets. He directed and produced nearly 70 documentary films and television series, tackling a diverse range of controversial and topical subjects. His projects delved into issues such as 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 influence on family farms (“Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!”).
In December 2017, amid the rising momentum of the #MeToo movement, Spurlock penned a lengthy social media post acknowledging his role in perpetuating the issue. He confessed to engaging in serial infidelities and revealed that he had settled a sexual harassment allegation made by a former assistant. Additionally, he disclosed that he had faced an accusation of rape during his college years. Following this revelation, Spurlock's involvement in documentary filmmaking came to an end as he stepped down 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.
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