Academy Award-nominated actor Michael Clarke Duncan has passed away aged 54 after failing to recover from a heart attack he suffered in July. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1957, Duncan started out working as a bodyguard for the likes of Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Notorious B.I.G. in the early 1990s whilst appearing in bit parts in films such as Friday, Back in Business and Bulworth. After being cast alongside Bruce Willis in Armageddon, the muscular 6 feet 5 inch actor secured what proved to be his breakthrough role – that of the gentle giant John Coffey in Frank Darabont’s acclaimed Stephen King adaptation The Green Mile, for which he was recognised with Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
Following his breakthrough in The Green Mile, Duncan went on to appear in a number of feature films, including The Whole Nine Yards, Planet of the Apes, The Scorpion King, Daredevil, Sin City,The Island and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li, as well as making guest appearances in the TV shows The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Chuck, Two and a Half Men and Bones. In addition to his on screen appearances, Duncan also enjoyed a number of voiceover credits, lending his distinctive voice to numerous films such as Cats & Dogs, Brother Bear, Kung Fu Panda and Green Lantern, alongside several popular video games including Saints Row, Soldier of Fortune and God of War II.
Originally published September 4, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.
