Morgan Spurlockdirector and star of the Oscar-nominated documentary Super my size, died Thursday at age 53 from complications of cancer. His family confirmed his death Diversity.
“It was a sad day as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” said. Craig Spurlock, who has 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 person. I am very proud to work with him.”
Born in 1970 in West Virginia, Spurlock graduated from New York University with a degree in film in 1993. He became nationally famous early on with the 2004 documentary Super my size, which documented the psychological and physiological effects he suffered after eating McDonald’s for every meal — three times a day for 30 days. Spurlock devised a rule for the experiment that he had to accept the “extremely large” meal option if it was offered to him while he was ordering, and he also exercised less to reflect activity level of the average American. At the end of the experiment, Spurlock said he was suffering from depression and liver dysfunction and that he had gained 25 pounds.
Super Size Me was a cultural phenomenon, grossing more than $20 million at the global box office and sparking a national conversation about Americans’ eating habits and fast food consumption. It has been nominated for Best documentation features at the 2004 Academy Awards, but lost Born in a brothel. While some questioned the authenticity of Spurlock’s findings and criticized his refusal to publicly share his food diary in the film, Super Size MeIts impact is undeniable. Six weeks after its launch, McDonald’s discontinued its large-size selection, although a company spokesperson said at the time that the documentary had “nothing to do with that.”
Same year Super Size Me was released, Spurlock founded the production company Warrior Poets, producing and directing nearly 70 documentaries and television series, including the 2008 TV movie. Where in the world is Osama Bin Laden? and 2011 The best movie ever sold. In the wake of #MeToo, Spurlock released a public letter admitting that he too was “part of the problem,” revealing that he had dealt with sexual harassment allegations from a former assistant, along with others. Another confession of sexual misconduct. The day after the release of the letter, he left Warrior Poets. One of his last documentaries was the 2017 sequel Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!, in which Spurlock opens his own fast food restaurant explores how the industry has tried to rebrand itself to be healthier in the years since Super my size.
Spurlock is survived by two sons, Laken And Kallen; Mom Phyllis Spurlock; dad Wharf; brothers Craig And Barry; and ex-wife Alexandra Jamieson And Sara Bernstein, mother of his two children.
