Morgan Spurlock, the Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker who famously scrutinized the fast food industry by eating only McDonald’s for a month in his film “Super Size Me,” has died at the age of 53. Spurlock passed away on Thursday in New York due to complications from cancer, according to a statement released by his family on Friday.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” stated Craig Spurlock, who collaborated with Morgan on several projects. “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.”
Spurlock made a significant impact in 2004 with “Super Size Me,” a documentary that highlighted the health risks of a fast-food diet by personally undergoing a month-long McDonald’s-only eating experiment. He revisited the food industry in 2019 with “Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!,” offering a critical look at the chicken industry that processes 9 billion animals annually in the United States.
Spurlock’s filmmaking style was known for its gonzo-like approach, incorporating zippy graphics, amusing music, and a blend of humor and pathos, reminiscent of Michael Moore’s confrontational style. His work not only exposed the darker sides of the fast-food and chicken industries but also influenced a rise in restaurants promoting freshness, artisanal methods, and ethically sourced ingredients, even though nutritional standards saw little change.
“There has been this massive shift and people say to me, ‘So has the food gotten healthier?’ And I say, ‘Well, the marketing sure has,’” Spurlock told the AP in 2019.
Morgan Spurlock’s legacy includes a body of work that challenged industries and sparked conversations about diet and health, leaving a lasting impact on documentary filmmaking and public awareness.