Michael Clarke Duncan, Oscar nominated for his role as John Coffey in The Green Mile (above) has died in Los Angeles, aged 54. His death follows a major heart attack on 13 July from which he never fully recovered.
Duncan was born in Chicago in 1957 and always wanted to act, but his path to stardom was a far from easy one. He has a succession of pay-the-wage jobs as he tried to find his big break, even working as a bodyguard for celebrities like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and Notorious B.I.G while taking bit parts on TV.
His first major film role was as Bear in Michael Bay’s Armageddon (1998) though it was starring in The Green Mile (1999) that really made him a household name. His other SF and fantasy appearances included Daredevil (2003 – as the Kingpin), Tim Burton’s Planet Of The Apes (2001) and The Island (2005). His distinctive, rich, booming voice also meant that he was constantly in demand for vocal performances, including Cats And Dogs, Kung Fu Panda, Green Lantern and Brother Bear, among many, many others.
RIP Michael Clarke Duncan 1957-2012
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