Michael Clarke Duncan passes at 54

[Gregzs]

DAREDEVIL And GREEN LANTERN Star Michael Clarke Duncan Dies Aged 54

Earlier today, it was reported that Michael Clarke Duncan had been taken into hospital after going in to cardiac arrest. His fianc?e now has now informed the press that the actor (best known to comic book fans for his work in Daredevil, Green Lantern and Sin City) has died.Josh Wilding - 9/3/2012

Michael Clarke Duncan suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13th, but was finally released from intensive care early last month. Despite seemingly being on the road to recovery, he went into cardiac arrest in his home at 2am this morning and was rushed to hospital soon after. As you can see from the video report below, it was believed that he was in a stable condition, but that sadly ended up not being the case as the actor has passed away. While he will always be remembered for playing 'John Coffey' in The Green Mile, Duncan will be most recognisable to readers of this site for playing 'The Kingpin' in Daredevil, voicing 'Kilowog' in Green Lantern and as 'Manute' in Sin City. Rest In Peace.

 

[Curt James]

Terrible news.

 

[charley]

r.i.p.

 

[dirtwarrior]

he was in the show Finder
He was on 2 and 1/2 men for 1 show

 

[seyone]

That sucks

 

[bio-chem]

bummer. that guy was fun to watch

 

[GearsMcGilf]

He finally walked that green mile.

 

[Nightowl]

I just found out, good actor; I am sorry to hear he is no longer here. RIP!

 

[NTL]

Always liked his acting.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Curt James]

More...

Michael Clarke Duncan is seen in his Oscar-nominated performance as John Coffey in "The Green Mile." (Ralph Nelson / Warner Bros.)

By Amy Kaufman and Gina McIntyre
September 3, 2012

Oscar-nominated actor Michael Clarke Duncan, the star of Frank Darabont's prison tale "The Green Mile," has died. He was 54.

The Chicago native rose to fame playing a hulking death row inmate with a special psychic gift in the 1999 film, adapted from the novel by Stephen King. The role, which cast him opposite Tom Hanks, earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing roughly 315 pounds, Duncan parlayed his considerable size into a career as a Hollywood security guard, working for the likes of Will Smith and the rapper Notorious B.I.G. His first movie role came in 1998's "Armageddon" with Bruce Willis; Willis later helped the fledgling actor land the "Green Mile" gig.

Of his affinity for the role of the doomed John Coffey, Duncan told The Times in a 2000 interview: "I identified with John Coffey in the fact that we both had troubled times, we are both big, and by looking at us, you would be fearful of your life if you met us in a dark alley."

He had appeared on television series including "Bones," "Chuck" and "Two and a Half Men" and lent his voice to such animated movie and TV projects as "Family Guy" and the movie "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore."

Clarke had been in a romantic relationship with reality TV star the Rev. Omarosa Manigault, best known for her time on NBC's competition series "The Apprentice." The two often frequented red carpet events together, including Perez Hilton's recent 34th birthday bash and more high-profile movie premieres, like "The Green Hornet."

He suffered a myocardial infarction July 13 and never fully recovered.

Publicist Joy Fehily released a statement from Manigault, who was engaged to Duncan, saying the 54-year-old actor died Monday morning in a Los Angeles hospital after nearly two months of treatment.

From 'Green Mile' star Michael Clarke Duncan dies at age 54 - latimes.com

 

[heavyiron]

? Michael Clarke Duncan / AP


Actor Michael Clarke Duncan dead at 54
Sept. 3, 2012, 5:53 PM EST

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.

Clarke died Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was being treated for a heart attack, said his fianc?e, reality TV personality Rev. Omarosa Manigault, in a statement released by publicist Joy Fehily.

Bing: More on Michael Clarke Duncan

The muscular, 6-foot-4 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, Clarke 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." Clarke would work with Willis again in "Breakfast of Champions," "The Whole Nine Yards" and "Sin City."

More: See photos of Michael Clarke Duncan

His industrial-sized build was suited for everything from superhero films ("Daredevil") to comedy ("Talladega Nights," "School for Scoundrels"). His gravelly baritone alone was good enough for several animated movies, including, "Kung Fu Panda," "Delgo" and "Brother Bear." Among Clarke'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 switching 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."

Actor Michael Clarke Duncan dead at 54 - MSN Movies News

 

[Ichigo]

May he rest in peace. I really liked him, great actor loved it when he played the bad guy.

 

[Arnold]

How long before there is a story blaming his heart attack on "steroids"?

 

[hypo_glycemic]

It's already speculation .. He's had heart issues since he was born, but they'll attribute blame, no doubt!

 

[hypo_glycemic]

"suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered,"

 

[Intense]

That's really sad. Always liked his acting, RIP.