The Green Mile actor played John Coffey in the 1999 film opposite Tom Hanks and it was his breakout role. That performance garnered him an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination. Duncan also appeared in such high profile films as Green Lantern, Talladega Nights, The Whole Nine Yards, Armageddon and many more. Click here for his imdb page.

Duncan was born in Chicago and raised by a single mom. He always wanted to act but dropped out of a university program when his mom became ill. At 6'5” and 315 pounds he got jobs as a ditch digger and bodyguard. He once stated he had also been a male stripper under the name Black Caesar.

MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN 1957-2012

While doing security jobs in L.A. For such notables as Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Notorious B.I.G. he also took bit parts in films and television. When Biggie was killed in 1997 Duncan quit the bodyguard business.

Cast in the 1998 film Armageddon, he struck up a friendship with Bruce Willis. Willis used his influence to get him a read for Green Mile, and the rest as they say "is history."

On July 13 he was sent to hospital after suffering a heart attack. It was reported that his girlfriend, Omarosa Manigualt-Stallworth potentially saved his life by performing CPR. His publicist reported that he was moved from ICU on August 6 but remained hospitalized. September 3 his fiancee reported that he had passed in hospital in Los Angeles.

Green Mile was an amazing performance, I still can't watch it without weeping nonstop. Michael Clarke Duncan was a great presence in any film role he took, and not just because of his size. He will be missed. RIP. LEAVE COMMENTS.

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