In Memoriam : Actor Michael Clarke Duncan dies at 54

Michael Clarke Duncan, the Oscar-nominated actor best known for his role in the movie The Green Mile, has died.

He was 54.

Michael Clarke Duncan death details

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

The muscular 6ft 4in former bodyguard 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.”

Career

In addition to his memorable role opposite Tom Hanks, Duncan starred in Armageddon, Sin City, and last season’s Fox drama series The Finder. According to IMDb, the actor has two more completed projects set for release: In the Hive and The Challenger.

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 pursue acting. 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, Duncan was in Los Angeles, where he looked for acting roles 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.

Source : Washington Post