May 24th 2024.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Morgan Spurlock, the talented filmmaker and former host of CNN's acclaimed series. His family shared the sad news that he lost his battle with cancer on Thursday at the age of 53 in New York, surrounded by loved ones.
In a statement, his brother Craig expressed the family's grief, saying, "We said goodbye to my brother Morgan, a day that will always be remembered as a sad one. He gave so much to the world through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has truly lost a creative genius and a remarkable man. I am honored to have collaborated with him."
Spurlock's career as a director was diverse and unpredictable. He gained widespread recognition for his documentary Super Size Me, which sparked a national conversation and caused controversy over the American fast food industry. The film followed his 30-day experiment of solely consuming food from McDonald's, and he would "super-size" his order whenever prompted during transactions.
However, his filmography also includes a satirical documentary about the search for Osama bin Laden, a concert film featuring One Direction, and a movie about Homer Simpson and baseball. He also served as the host of CNN's popular series Morgan Spurlock Inside Man for several years.
Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Spurlock spent his childhood in Beckley and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He went on to attend New York University, where he graduated in 1993. Spurlock was the founder of the New York-based production company Warrior Poets and premiered his first film, Super Size Me, at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. The film earned him the best director award and went on to win the first-ever Writers Guild of America best documentary screenplay award. It also received an Academy Award nomination for best feature documentary.
One of the reasons Super Size Me resonated with audiences was Spurlock's willingness to use himself as a test subject to showcase the effects of a diet consisting solely of McDonald's food. He gained 24 pounds and documented the negative impact it had on his body. In 2019, he released a sequel titled Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken.
Spurlock continued to explore different topics in his documentaries, including 2008's Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? and 2011's POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. He also created the reality TV series 30 Days in 2005 and was at the forefront of producing digital content, helping Hulu with their first original series, A Day in the Life.
In 2017, as the #MeToo movement gained momentum, Spurlock confessed to past instances of sexual misconduct in a statement on social media. He acknowledged his role in the issue, saying, "After months of these revelations, I have come to understand that I am not an innocent bystander, I am also part of the problem." He stepped down as the CEO of his production company.
Spurlock leaves behind two sons, Laken and Kallen, from his previous marriages to Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein. His legacy as a creative and thought-provoking filmmaker will live on, and he will be dearly missed by many.
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