The star of the popular documentary has died at just 53-years-old

Documentary maker Morgan Spurlock has died aged just 53 years old.

Film fans will recognize Spurlock for his work focusing on food and American diets, with one of his most memorable documentaries being the 2004 film Super Size Me.

In the documentary, Spurlock claimed to only eat McDonald’s food for an entire 30 days to monitor the effects of the fast food-based diet.

Morgan Spurlock had been diagnosed with cancer. (Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb)

His work in film and television earned Spurlock an Oscar nomination in 2005, in the category of Best Documentary Feature.

News of Spurlock’s death was confirmed by his brother, Craig, in a statement shared today (24 May).

He said: “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..”

Spurlock’s death comes after he was diagnosed with cancer. He died ‘peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends’, according to the statement.

As well as being one of his older brothers, Craig worked with Spurlock on a number of documentary projects including Morgan Spurlock Inside Man and 7 Deadly Sins.

Other projects Spurlock worked on include Mansome, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Where In the World Is Osama Bin Laden?

Spurlock’s work earned him an Oscar nomination. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Another statement from Spurlock’s family, cited by Deadline, said: “Spurlock fearlessly challenged modern conventions utilizing humor and wit to shed light on societal issues.

“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.

“He deeply valued the creative contributions of the talented people who worked on his projects, developing a cadre of freelance production professionals who came back time and again. A great lover of modern artists, Spurlock compiled an extensive art collection, which decorated the walls of his home and the Warrior Poets office in SoHo, New York.”

In his more recent years, Spurlock took a step back from major projects and stepped down from the production company the production company he had founded in 2004, Warrior Poets, after he admitted to a history of sexual misconduct dating back to his days at college.

He also claimed he had ‘been unfaithful to every wife and girlfriend I have ever had’.

In 2018, Spurlock was sued by Turner Entertainment Networks over the admission, which was later settled after Spurlock’s company agreed to pay $1.2 million.