It is many a tragedy to hear of any one at a young age like Michael Clarke Duncan to pass away at 54, but although his passing is terribly depressing, we must remember him for all of the incredible work he has done. Most notably known for his works in The Green Mile and Armageddon, Michael Clarke Duncan was that lovable, hulking black man that captivated audiences through his immensely strong on-screen presence (there is no other actor who could replace him). Today we lost a great, kind-hearted actor who will forever be missed. He had endless potential and a great range of work that will carry on forever. More on the story after the break.

As the story goes, Michael Clarke Duncan has not been in the greatest of health recently, he suffered a myocardial infarction (a heart attack) and never fully recovered. He recently became a vegetarian to adhere to a more healthy lifestyle, but unfortunately that was not enough.

Born and raised on the South side of Chicago, Duncan did not begin professionally acting until the age of 30. Surprisingly his mother did not allow him to play football in school, so he turned to acting. Working as a ditch digger in Chicago, looking for a more promising career, he moved to Hollywood. He picked up gigs as a bodyguard for some big names, including Will Smith and the rapper Notorious B.I.G.

Michale Clarke Duncan picked up small character acting work on various television shows and then landed a supporting character role in Michael Bay’s Armageddon. From there, it was a year later that The Green Mile debuted, and one Oscar nomination later, his career took off considerably.

I would assume he was in negotiations to be cast in the upcoming Sin City sequel A Dame to Kill For. Other notable works in film include: The Island, Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes, The Whole Nine Yards, Kung Fu Panda, The Scorpion King, The Slammin’ Salmon, and Sin City.

Source: Chicago Tribune