Morgan Spurlock, the renowned filmmaker who shook the fast food industry with his groundbreaking documentary “Super Size Me,” has died at the age of 53 due to complications from cancer.
Spurlock’s 2004 film, which documented his own physical and mental changes from eating only McDonald’s food for every meal, earned him an Academy Award nomination and the Writers Guild of America Best Director Award. The documentary spurred significant introspection among the food industry, policymakers, and cultural commentators, who praised Spurlock for shedding light on the obesity crisis in America. At the time, research indicated that about a third of Americans were morbidly obese. By the end of his month-long experiment, Spurlock’s cholesterol increased by 65 points, he gained 24.5 pounds, and he experienced depression and liver dysfunction, according to Variety.
In a family statement, they shared that Spurlock “passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on May 23, 2024, in New York from complications of cancer.”
His brother Craig expressed his sorrow, saying, “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 together with him.”
A significant part of Spurlock’s critique of McDonald’s focused on the chain’s super-sized meal options, which included large portions of french fries and soda. For the duration of his diet, Spurlock was required to order the largest available meal option. “Super Size Me” resonated deeply with audiences, grossing $22 million worldwide and leading to McDonald’s decision to phase out the super-size option from its menu shortly after the film’s release.
Born on November 7, 1970, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Spurlock graduated with a BFA from New York University in 1993. He initially worked as a playwright in New York before moving into documentary filmmaking. Following the success of “Super Size Me,” Spurlock continued to produce moderately successful documentaries over the next 13 years, tackling topics such as the search for Osama bin Laden, immigrant labor, the challenges of minimum wage workers, elder care, and corporate farming. He also hosted “30 Days” on FX for three seasons, where either Spurlock or a guest would spend 30 days in an unfamiliar environment, such as a Christian living with a Muslim family or an anti-gay individual staying with an LGBT family.
However, Spurlock’s career as a documentarian came to an abrupt end during the #MeToo movement in 2017 when reports of his past sexual harassment surfaced. Despite attempts to release new projects on smaller platforms, Spurlock faced a “career death” within five years, as reported by the Washington Post.
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