Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America害羞草研究所檚 food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald害羞草研究所檚 for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died. He was 53.

Spurlock died Thursday in New York from complications of cancer, according to a statement issued Friday by his family.

害羞草研究所淚t was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,害羞草研究所� Craig Spurlock, who worked with him on several projects, said in the statement. 害羞草研究所淢organ 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.害羞草研究所�

Spurlock made a splash in 2004 with his groundbreaking film 害羞草研究所淪uper Size Me,害羞草研究所� which was nominated for an Academy Award. The film chronicled the detrimental physical and psychological effects of Spurlock eating only McDonald害羞草研究所檚 food for 30 days. He gained about 25 pounds, saw a spike in his cholesterol and lost his sex drive.

害羞草研究所淓verything害羞草研究所檚 bigger in America,害羞草研究所� he said in the film. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got the biggest cars, the biggest houses, the biggest companies, the biggest food, and finally: the biggest people.害羞草研究所�

In one scene, Spurlock showed kids a photo of George Washington and none recognized the Founding Father. But they all instantly knew the mascots for Wendy害羞草研究所檚 and McDonald害羞草研究所檚.

The film grossed more than $22 million on a $65,000 budget and preceded the release of Eric Schlosser害羞草研究所檚 influential 害羞草研究所淔ast Food Nation,害羞草研究所� which accused the industry of being bad for the environment and rife with labor issues.

Spurlock with 害羞草研究所淪uper Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� a sober look at an industry that processes 9 billion animals a year in America. He focused on two issues: chicken farmers stuck in a peculiar financial system and the attempt by fast-food chains to deceive customers into thinking they害羞草研究所檙e eating healthier.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e at an amazing moment in history from a consumer standpoint where consumers are starting to have more and more power,害羞草研究所� he told The Associated Press in 2019. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not about return for the shareholders. It害羞草研究所檚 about return for the consumers.害羞草研究所�

Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His stylistic touches included zippy graphics and amusing music, blending a Michael Moore-ish camera-in-your-face style with his own sense of humor and pathos.

害羞草研究所淚 wanted to be able to lean into the serious moments. I wanted to be able to breathe in the moments of levity. We want to give you permission to laugh in the places where it害羞草研究所檚 really hard to laugh,害羞草研究所� he told the AP.

After he exposed the fast-food and chicken industries, there was an explosion in restaurants stressing freshness, artisanal methods, farm-to-table goodness and ethically sourced ingredients. But nutritionally not much had changed.

害羞草研究所淭here has been this massive shift and people say to me, 害羞草研究所楽o has the food gotten healthier?害羞草研究所� And I say, 害羞草研究所榃ell, the marketing sure has,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said.

Not all his work dealt with food. Spurlock made documentaries about and the geeks and fanboys at Comic-Con. One of his films looked at life behind bars at the Henrico County Jail in Virginia.

With 2008害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淲here in the World is Osama bin Laden?害羞草研究所� Spurlock went on a global search to find the al-Qaida leader, who was killed in 2011. In 害羞草研究所淧OM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold,害羞草研究所� Spurlock tackled questions of product placement, marketing and advertising.

害羞草研究所淏eing aware is half the battle, I think. Literally knowing all the time when you害羞草研究所檙e being marketed to is a great thing,害羞草研究所� Spurlock told AP at the time. 害羞草研究所淎 lot of people don害羞草研究所檛 realize it. They can害羞草研究所檛 see the forest for the trees.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪uper Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!害羞草研究所� was to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 but it was shelved at the height of the #MeToo movement when Spurlock came forward to detail his own history of sexual misconduct.

He confessed that he had been accused of rape while in college and had settled a sexual harassment case with a female assistant. He also admitted to cheating on numerous partners. 害羞草研究所淚 am part of the problem,害羞草研究所� he wrote.

害羞草研究所淔or me, there was a moment of kind of realization 害羞草研究所� as somebody who is a truth-teller and somebody who has made it a point of trying to do what害羞草研究所檚 right 害羞草研究所� of recognizing that I could do better in my own life. We should be able to admit we were wrong,害羞草研究所� he told the AP.

Spurlock grew up in Beckley, West Virginia. His mother was an English teacher who he remembered would correct his work with a red pen. He graduated with a BFA in film from New York University in 1993.

He is survived by two sons 害羞草研究所� Laken and Kallen; his mother Phyllis Spurlock; father Ben; brothers Craig and Barry; and former spouses Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein, the mothers of his children.

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Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press