Michael Clarke Duncan, the hulking, prolific character actor whose dozens of films included an Oscar-nominated performance as a death row inmate in "The Green Mile" and such other box office hits as "Armageddon," ''Planet of the Apes" and "Kung Fu Panda," is dead at age 54.
In July it was reported that "The Green Mile" star Michael Clarke Duncan was rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Three weeks later, the 54-year-old actor was moved from the intensive care unit, but still remained hospitalized. Now comes word that Duncan has passed away.
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Clarke died Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was being treated for a heart attack, said his fiancée, reality TV personality Rev. Omarosa Manigault, in a statement released by publicist Joy Fehily.
The Chicago-born actor is best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in Frank Darabont’s ‘The Green Mile,’ for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. He is also recognised for his appearances in the likes of ‘Armageddon,’ ‘The Whole Nine Yards,’ ‘The Scorpion King,’ ’Brother Bear,’ ‘Sin City,’ ‘Planet of the Apes,’ ’The Island,’ ‘Daredevil’ as well as voice acting in films such as ‘Delgo,’ Kung Fu Panda,’ the video game ‘God of War II,’ and most recently ‘Green Lantern.’
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michael Clarke Duncan always wanted to act, but had to drop out of the Communications program at Alcorn State University to support his family when his mother became ill. Duncan’s large frame – 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) and 315 pounds (142 kg) – helped him in his jobs digging ditches for the People’s Gas Company and being a bouncer at different Chicago clubs. This lead to security jobs while in Los Angeles trying to get some acting work in commercials. During this time, he worked as a bodyguard for celebrities such as Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and Notorious B.I.G., all the while doing bit parts in television and films. In 1998, Duncan was cast as Bear in Michael Bay’s summer blockbuster ‘Armageddon,’ where he struck up a friendship with cast mate Bruce Willis. It was Willis’ influence that helped him to get his breakout role as John Coffey in ’The Green Mile,’ a role which netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.
From all of us here at TEMPLAR DIGITAL would like to send out our deepest and most sincere condolences to Mr. Duncan’s family and friends as they go through this rough time.
SOURCE: TMZ
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