Michael Clarke Duncan–best known for his role as an inmate with healing powers in the “Green Mile”–died Monday after suffering a heart attack. He has been in a Los Angeles hospital since July 13 undergoing treatment. Duncan, at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 300 pounds, was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his role as the gentle giant inmate John Coffey in the “Green Mile” which also starred Tom Hanks. He got the role, due in part, to a recommendation from Bruce Willis after working with in 1998’s “Armageddon”. Michael would go on the star with Willis in three more films–Breakfast Champions, The Whole Nine Yards and Sin City.
Before acting, Duncan had a career as a bodyguard to stars such as Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx and The Notorious B.I.G. whose 1997 death prompted him to leave that line of work. Michael Clarke Duncan has also starred in smaller roles on TV including “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “Sister, Sister”, “The Jamie Foxx Show”, “Two and a Half Men”, “CSI:NY” and “Bones”. He is also featured in a yet to be released show “Challenger”.
Duncan with co-star Tom Hanks in The Green Mile, which netted him a Best Supporting Actor nomination for an Academy Award and Golden Globe
Over his 30 year career, Duncan also mapped out a career as a voice actor. He voiced the villain Massive in “Loonatics Unleashed”. In 2006, he voiced the role of Numbuh 26 in the animated movie “Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation ZERO”. Additionally, he played Balrog in “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” and voiced the prison commander in “Kung Fu Panda”. Gamers will remember him as the voice of Atlas in “God of War II”. His other game roles include “Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone”, “SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs”, “The Suffering: Ties That Bind”, “Saints Row”, and “Soldier of Fortune”. Michael has had a role in a pair of Marvel productions. He first starred as the crime boss Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin in 2003’s “Daredevil” which also starred Ben Afleck and Jennifer Garner. He would later reprise this role for “Spider-Man: The New Animated Series”. Duncan also voiced Kilowog in 2011’s “Green Lantern”, a role that is currently voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, known for his role as Bulkhead on the HUB series “Transformers Prime”.
We will also remember him as Balthazar in the 2002 film “The Scorpion King” which made his friend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson a star. One year prior, he was cast as Colonel Attar, a gorilla military officer, in Tim Burton’s remake of “Planet of the Apes”. Duncan has also done comercials for PETA and Quiznos.
Michael Clarke Duncan with girlfriend Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
On July 13, 2012, Duncan was sent to the hospital after suffering from a heart attack. It was reported that his girlfriend, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, who was a two-time participant on “The Apprentice”, potentially saved his life by performing CPR before he was transported to the hospital.
Duncan’s publicist Joy Fehily said in a statement on August 6, 2012 that he was moved from the intensive care unit but remained hospitalized following his July 13 heart attack.
On September 3, 2012, a publicist quoted Manigault as saying that Duncan had died that morning in Los Angeles at the age of 54. “The Oscar-nominated actor suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered,” publicist Joy Fehily said, adding that celebrations of Duncan’s life would be announced at a later date. The statement also, for the first time, described Manigault as Duncan’s fiancée.
Duncan in the Green Mile
From gantle giant to malicious crime boss in 2003’s Daredevil
Michael Clarke Duncan’s role as a rhino prison guard in Kung Fu Panda, one of many voice over roles he has done…
…as well as in games.
