Morgan Valentine Spurlock was a multi-talented American filmmaker known for directing and producing a wide range of films. His most acclaimed work, "Super Size Me" (2004), earned him an Academy Award nomination. Spurlock's diverse filmography includes documentaries, such as "Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?" (2008), and projects in the music and entertainment realm, like "One Direction: This Is Us" (2013). His career encompassed directing 23 films and producing nearly 70.
November 7, 1970: Morgan Spurlock's Birth
Morgan Valentine Spurlock was born on November 7, 1970.
1993: Graduation from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts
Morgan Spurlock graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in film in 1993.
1999: Award-Winning Play "The Phoenix" at New York International Fringe Festival
Morgan Spurlock's play "The Phoenix" won awards at the New York International Fringe Festival in 1999.
2000: Award-Winning Play "The Phoenix" at Route 66 American Playwriting Competition
Morgan Spurlock's play "The Phoenix" also won awards at the Route 66 American Playwriting Competition in 2000.
2003: The "Super Size Me" Experiment
In 2003, Morgan Spurlock conducted the experiment depicted in "Super Size Me," where he ate only McDonald's for 30 days, documenting the effects on his health.
May 7, 2004: US Release of "Super Size Me"
Morgan Spurlock's docudrama "Super Size Me" was released in the United States on May 7, 2004.
2004: Release of "Super Size Me" and Academy Award Nomination
In 2004, Morgan Spurlock released his acclaimed documentary "Super Size Me," which went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film.
2004: Co-founding of Warrior Poets Production Studio
Morgan Spurlock co-founded the production studio Warrior Poets in 2004.
2004: Spurlock Co-founds Warrior Poets
Spurlock co-founded the production company Warrior Poets in 2004.
2005: Publication of "Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America"
Morgan Spurlock wrote and published "Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America" in 2005, as a follow-up to "Super Size Me."
2005: Premiere of "30 Days" on FX
Morgan Spurlock's reality television series "30 Days" premiered on FX in 2005.
2007: Release of "What Would Jesus Buy?"
Morgan Spurlock produced the documentary "What Would Jesus Buy?" in 2007.
January 2008: Premiere of "Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?" at Sundance
Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008.
June 3, 2008: Premiere of "30 Days" Season Three
The third season of Morgan Spurlock's series "30 Days" premiered on June 3, 2008.
2008: Release of "Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?"
Morgan Spurlock directed and released the documentary "Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?" in 2008.
2008: Conclusion of "30 Days" on FX
Morgan Spurlock's reality television series "30 Days" concluded its run on FX in 2008.
April 2010: Premiere of "Freakonomics" at Tribeca Film Festival
The documentary adaptation of "Freakonomics," which included a segment directed by Morgan Spurlock, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2010.
October 2010: Premiere of "Committed: The Toronto International Film Festival"
The one-hour documentary "Committed: The Toronto International Film Festival" premiered on AMC on October 12, 2010.
2010: Collaboration on "Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope"
Morgan Spurlock worked with Joss Whedon, Harry Knowles, and Stan Lee on the documentary "Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope" in mid-2010.
January 2011: Premiere of "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" at Sundance
Morgan Spurlock's documentary "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011.
April 22, 2011: Limited Release of "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" in the US
"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" had a limited release in select US cities on April 22, 2011.
April 28, 2011: Opening Film at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" opened the 2011 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on April 28, 2011.
2011: Release of "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" and "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope"
Morgan Spurlock directed and released two documentaries in 2011: "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" and "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope."
March 8, 2012: "Mansome" Documentary Announced at Tribeca Film Festival
On March 8, 2012, Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Mansome" was announced as a Spotlight selection for the Tribeca Film Festival. The film humorously explores male identity through the lens of men's grooming habits, featuring insights from celebrities and experts.
June 2013: Launch of "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man" on CNN
In June 2013, Morgan Spurlock became the producer and host of the CNN show "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man."
June 2013: "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man" Premieres on CNN
In June 2013, the CNN series "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man," hosted and produced by Spurlock, premiered.
2013: Release of "One Direction: This Is Us"
Morgan Spurlock directed and released the documentary "One Direction: This Is Us" in 2013.
July 8, 2014: "A Brony Tale" Sees Theatrical Release
On July 8, 2014, "A Brony Tale," a documentary distributed by Spurlock's label Morgan Spurlock Presents, was released in theaters. The film, directed by Brent Hodge, delves into the brony phenomenon and the career of Ashleigh Ball.
2014: Spurlock Publicly Discusses Agnosticism
In a 2014 interview with TV Guide, Spurlock, who was raised Methodist, shared that he identifies as agnostic.
2015: Spurlock Collaborates on "Consider the Source" Web Series
Spurlock partnered with Hodgee Films again in 2015 for the web series "Consider the Source," associated with Disney's Maker Studios.
August 2016: "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man" Concludes
August 2016 marked the end of Spurlock's run as host and producer of the CNN series "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man."
2016: Conclusion of "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man" on CNN
Morgan Spurlock's show "Morgan Spurlock Inside Man" concluded its run on CNN in 2016.
December 2017: Spurlock's Admission of Alcoholism and Questions About "Super Size Me"
In December 2017, Morgan Spurlock's admission to struggling with alcoholism for decades raised questions about the validity of attributing his health problems solely to the McDonald's diet in "Super Size Me."
December 2017: Spurlock Admits to Sexual Misconduct
In December 2017, amidst the #MeToo movement, Spurlock published a blog post confessing to a history of sexual misconduct. He acknowledged cheating on past partners and settling a sexual harassment claim from an assistant at his company, Warrior Poets.
2017: "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" Release
Spurlock completed the sequel "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" in 2017, initially set for distribution by YouTube Red.
2017: Postponement of "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" and Spurlock's Public Admission
The release of "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" was postponed in 2017 after Morgan Spurlock publicly admitted to a history of sexual misconduct.
September 2019: "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" Finds New Distributor
Following Spurlock's admissions of misconduct, Samuel Goldwyn Films picked up "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" for distribution in September 2019.
2019: Release of "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!"
"Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!" was released in 2019 by Samuel Goldwyn Films, following the controversy surrounding Morgan Spurlock.
2019: Spurlock Reflects on Past Misconduct and Career Impact
In 2019, Spurlock spoke to the Associated Press about his past misconduct, expressing a desire for self-improvement and acknowledging the impact on his career as a documentary filmmaker.
October 2022: Report Highlights Career Impact of Spurlock's Misconduct
The Washington Post reported in October 2022 that Spurlock's career had suffered significantly due to his past misconduct.
May 23, 2024: Morgan Spurlock's Death
Morgan Spurlock passed away on May 23, 2024, at the age of 53 due to complications from cancer.