Michael-Duncan-Obituary

Michael Clarke Duncan

Obituary

LOS ANGELES (AP) - 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.

Duncan 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 muscular, 6-foot-4 (1.96 meter) Duncan, a former bodyguard who turned to acting in his 30s, "suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered," the statement said. "Manigault is grateful for all of your prayers and asks for privacy at this time. Celebrations of his life, both private and public, will be announced at a later date."

In the spring of 2012, Duncan had appeared in a video for PETA, the animal rights organization, in which he spoke of how much better he felt since becoming a vegetarian three years earlier.

"I cleared out my refrigerator, about $5,000 worth of meat," he said. "I'm a lot healthier than I was when I was eating meat."

Duncan had a handful of minor roles before "The Green Mile" brought him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. The 1999 film, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, starred Tom Hanks as a corrections officer at a penitentiary in the 1930s. Duncan played John Coffey, a convicted murderer with a surprisingly gentle demeanor and extraordinary healing powers.

Duncan's performance caught on with critics and moviegoers and he quickly became a favorite in Hollywood, appearing in several films a year. He owed some of his good fortune to Bruce Willis, who recommended Duncan for "The Green Mile" after the two appeared together in "Armageddon." Duncan would work with Willis again in "Breakfast of C hampions," ''The Whole Nine Yards" and "Sin City."

His industrial-sized build was suited for everything from superhero films ("Daredevil") to comedy ("Talledega Nights," ''School for Scoundrels"). His gravelly baritone alone was good enough for several animated movies, including, "Kung Fu Panda," ''Delgo" and "Brother Bear." Among Duncan's television credits: "The Apprentice," ''The Finder," ''Two and a Half Men" and "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody."

Born in Chicago in 1957, Duncan was raised by a single mother whose resistance to his playing football led to his deciding he wanted to become an actor. But when his mother became ill, he dropped out of college, Alcorn State University, and worked as a ditch digger and bouncer to support her. By his mid-20s, he was in Los Angeles, where he looked for acting parts and became a bodyguard for Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and other stars. The murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G., for whom Duncan had been hired to protect before s witching assignments, led him to quit his job and pursue acting full-time.

Early film and television credits, when he was usually cast as a bodyguard or bouncer, included "Bulworth," ''A Night at the Roxbury" and "The Players Club."

HILLEL ITALIE, Associated Press


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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M.OTIVATING
I.NCREDIBLE
C.ARING
H.ONORABLE
A.UTHENTIC
E.XCEPTIONAL
L.OYAL

C.APTIVATING
L.OVING
A.DMIRED
R.ESPECTED
K.INDHEARTED
E.NLIGHTENING

D.EVOTED
U.NIQUE
N.URTURING
C.OMPASSIONATE
A.MAZING
N.OBLE

YOU DEFINITELY WERE A LIGHT IN THIS WORLD, YOUR SMILE COULD LIGHT UP A ROOM ,AND FILL HEARTS WITH LOVE,AND NOW IT WILL CONTINUE TO LIGHT UP IN THAT BEAUTIFUL PLACE UP ABOVE.

He was one of my most favorite actors. Along with Tom hanks and the likes like chuck Conners he will be missed Eddie Ratliff harvest ala bama

Forever mile ♥ high

Awwww...... God wanted you home and no more suffering dear Michael ♥
God love you forever as we do test on sweet soul

A kind SOUL who stayed HUMBLE in the mist of RICHES. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN....PRAYERS and BLESSINGS

Wow i just watch a powerful movie the "Challenger" it was amazing you will always be a legend an Icon through all of your wonderful works my friend you will forever an always be greatly miss by many my heart goes out to your family my the Lord give you all strength RIP Michael Duncan(Fan Tara R)...

RIP Gentle Giant. Many prayers and condolences to your family and friends.