Morgan Spurlock, Director of 'Super Size Me,' Passes Away at 53

             

Morgan Spurlock, the documentary filmmaker known for capturing his own psychological and physical symptoms from eating McDonald’s every day for a month in the Oscar-nominated 2004 feature "Super Size Me," passed away Thursday in upstate New York due to complications from cancer. He was 53.

Spurlock’s family confirmed his death.

“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” said Craig Spurlock, who collaborated with him 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 together with him.”

Morgan Spurlock rose to prominence with "Super Size Me," an experiment where he ate only McDonald's food for 30 days. The rules required him to accept the "super-size" option if offered and to exercise less to match the average American's activity level. By the end of the experiment, Spurlock reported gaining 25 pounds, experiencing depression, and suffering liver dysfunction.

“Super Size Me” resonated widely when it was released in 2004, grossing $22 million globally and sparking conversations about the fast food industry's role in poor nutrition. McDonald’s discontinued its “super-size” option following the film’s release. While the documentary is still used in some school health classes, its accuracy has been debated, partly due to Spurlock's refusal to share his diet log. Spurlock later revealed his struggle with alcohol abuse, which some believe may have influenced the documentary's findings on liver dysfunction.

Born on November 7, 1970, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Spurlock was raised Methodist but identified as agnostic later in life. He graduated from New York University with a BFA in film in 1993.

Following "Super Size Me," Spurlock achieved further success with his production company, Warrior Poets, producing and directing nearly 70 documentaries and TV series. His works often addressed controversial topics, 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"), and corporate pressure on family farms ("Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!").

In December 2017, amid the #MeToo movement, Spurlock admitted in a social media post to serial infidelity and sexual harassment, including an accusation of rape in college. This confession led to his resignation from Warrior Poets and effectively ended his documentary career.

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); multiple nieces and nephews; and his former spouses, Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein.