Morgan Valentine Spurlock (November 7, 1970 – May 23, 2024) was an American documentary filmmaker, writer, and television producer. He earned acclaim for Super Size Me (2004), which was Academy Award-nominated. Other notable works include What Would Jesus Buy?, Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Comic-Con Episode IV, and One Direction: This Is Us.
He hosted 30 Days and Inside Man, and co-founded Cinelan. After admitting past misconduct, he resigned. Super Size Me 2 released in 2019. He died in 2024 from cancer complications.
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Morgan Spurlock Net Worth
Morgan Spurlock had a net worth of $5 million. He was best known for his Academy Award-nominated 2004 film, Super Size Me, where he ate only McDonald’s for 30 days. The film grossed $22 million on a budget of just $65,000.
Other documentaries he directed include Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?, POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and the concert film One Direction: This Is Us. He starred in 30 Days and hosted Morgan Spurlock Inside Man on CNN. He died on May 23, 2024, at age 53.
Early life
Morgan Valentine Spurlock was born November 7, 1970, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and raised in Beckley. His parents, Ben and Phyllis Spurlock, raised him Methodist; Phyllis was an English teacher and guidance counselor, and Ben owned an auto repair shop. Spurlock was of Scots-Irish and English descent and revealed he was sexually abused as a child.
He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and earned a BFA in film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1993. He belonged to Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Career
Morgan Spurlock was an award-winning playwright, recognized for The Phoenix at the New York International Fringe Festival (1999) and the Route 66 American Playwriting Competition (2000). In 2004, he co-founded Warrior Poets, the production studio behind his films.
Spurlock cited influential documentaries such as Brother’s Keeper, Hoop Dreams, The Thin Blue Line, Roger and Me, Harlan County, USA, and The Last Waltz. He regarded Brother’s Keeper as the greatest documentary ever made, deeply shaping his creative vision and career in filmmaking.
Personal life
Morgan Spurlock was married to Priscilla Sommer, Alexandra Jamieson, and Sara Bernstein; all three marriages ended in divorce. He had two children. Raised Methodist, Spurlock later described himself as agnostic in a 2014 interview with TV Guide.
His personal life reflected both spiritual change and family complexity, paralleling the introspective and often provocative nature of his documentary work.
What did Morgan Spurlock pass away from?
Morgan Spurlock, acclaimed Super Size Me filmmaker, died on Thursday, May 23, in New York at age 53 from complications related to cancer, according to publicist David Magdael. His brother Craig Spurlock shared in a statement, “It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan.”
Spurlock’s passing marked the end of a bold and influential career in documentary filmmaking, remembered for his fearless exploration of social issues and lasting impact on audiences worldwide.
Conclusion
Morgan Spurlock’s journey from a small-town boy to a millionaire documentary filmmaker is a testament to the impact of passion, creativity, and hard work. His ability to engage with pressing social issues while maintaining a sense of humor has earned him a unique place in the entertainment industry, as well as a considerable net worth.
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FAQs about Morgan Spurlock Net Worth
- What documentary is Morgan Spurlock best known for? Morgan Spurlock is best known for his groundbreaking documentary, “Super Size Me.”
- Has Morgan Spurlock won any awards for his work? While he has received numerous nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for “Super Size Me,” Spurlock has won several awards, including a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Screenplay.
- What other notable projects has Morgan Spurlock worked on? Besides “Super Size Me,” Spurlock has worked on “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?”, “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold,” and the television series “30 Days.”
- What impact did “Super Size Me” have on Morgan Spurlock’s career? “Super Size Me” significantly boosted Spurlock’s career, establishing him as a serious documentary filmmaker capable of influencing public discourse and policy.
- What has Morgan Spurlock done to address social issues through his work? Through his documentaries, Spurlock has tackled various social issues, including consumerism, obesity, and the impact of corporate sponsorship on artistic and journalistic integrity.
