Director Morgan Spurlock, known for "Super Size Me," passed away at 53 after battling cancer. He died in New York surrounded by loved ones. Spurlock gained fame with his 2004 documentary, where he ate only McDonald's food for 30 days.
Despite its success, his career faced turmoil in 2017 when he admitted to sexual misconduct. Spurlock is survived by two sons, and donations to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in New York City have been requested in his honor.
'Super Size Me' Director Morgan Spurlock Dies At 53
Oscar-nominated director Morgan Spurlock has recently passed away at 53 after a private battle with cancer.
According to a family statement, per Deadline, Spurlock "died peacefully in New York, surrounded by family and friends." The family also noted that his cause of deathwas complications of cancer. He was undergoing chemotherapy earlier this year after being diagnosed with cancer.
Paying tribute to his younger brother, Craig Spurlock, with whom Morgan collaborated on documentaries like "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man," stated: "It was a sad day as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan."
He added: "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."
Details regarding a memorial service will be announced soon. The family also requested "generous donations to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in New York City" in Morgan's memory.
Fans Pay Tribute To Morgan Spurlock
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Tributes have already started pouring in for the late director as fans troop to social media to honor his memory.
One person commented on Spurlock's Instagram page, "I am so very shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Morgan Spurlock. He was [a] documentarian hero for the people. I loved everything he made. He will definitely be missed by so many. Many heartfelt condolences to his family and other loved ones."
Another wrote, "RIP. It was so wonderful meeting you on a Delta flight, we were sitting next to each other. We talked the entire flight that our necks hurt from facing each other so we switched seats to give our necks a break. Sending prayers to the family."
A third person noted, "Rest Easy, Morgan. I'll make sure to watch your documentary again this weekend."
Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days Fast-Food Diet
Morgan shot to fame twenty years ago for his breakthrough documentary "Super Size Me," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In this film, Morgan consumed only McDonald's food for 30 days to examine the health effects of a fast-food diet.
Filming himself in a Michael Moore-inspired style, the "Freakonomics" star documented his dramatic weight gain and severe liver damage from a diet of Quarter Pounder combos, French fries, flapjacks pancakes, breakfast sausages, and soft drinks.
The documentary grossed over $20 million worldwide, a remarkable achievement for a nonfiction film, and catapulted Morgan to fame in the documentary world. However, his career hit a major setback in 2017 during the MeToo movement when he admitted to past sexual misconduct in a blog post. Following this revelation, Morgan resigned from Warrior Poets, the production company he founded in 2004.
The Late Director's Impressive Work
Morgan's impressive filmography includes "Mansome, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" and "Where In the World Is Osama Bin Laden?"
His documentaries often blended humor with serious themes, exploring consumerism, advertising, masculinity, and terrorism. However, in 2013, he diverged from his usual style and directed the 2013 music documentary "One Direction: This Is Us."
"Spurlock fearlessly challenged modern conventions utilizing humor and wit to shed light on societal issues," his family said, per Deadline. "His films inspired critical thinking and encouraged viewers to question the status quo. Over thirteen years, through his production company Warrior Poets, Spurlock found additional success producing and directing nearly 70 documentary films and television series."
Morgan Spurlock's Self Cancelation In The 'Me Too' Movement
At the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, Spurlock unveiled "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" A pseudo-sequel about his venture into the fast-food industry.
Despite its premiere, the film wasn't released theatrically until two years later. By then, Spurlock's career had suffered a blow.
According to Deadline, in a Twitlonger post dated December 14, 2017, Spurlock made a controversial comment, writing: "As I sit around watching hero after hero, man after man, fall at the realization of their past indiscretions, I don't sit by and wonder 'who will be next?' I wonder, 'When will they come for me?'"
Spurlock is survived by his two sons, Laken and Kallen, his mother Phyllis, his father Ben, brothers Craig and Barry, and former spouses Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein, who are the mothers of his children.
Rest in peace, Morgan Spurlock.
