Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan (December 10, 1957September 3, 2012) was an American actor best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile (1999), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and various similar honors. He also appeared in motion pictures such as Armageddon (1998), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), The Scorpion King (2002), Daredevil (2003), and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006). He also had voice roles in films such as Brother Bear (2003), Romeo: A Dog’s Tale (2006), Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Green Lantern (2011).
==Early life==
Duncan was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in a single-parent household with his sister, Judy, and mother, Jean Duncan (a house cleaner), after his father left. He always wanted to act, but had to drop out of the Communications program at Alcorn State University to support his family when his mother became ill.
Duncan's large frame— and —helped him in his jobs digging ditches for Peoples Gas Company and being a bouncer at several Chicago clubs. Duncan also played basketball at Kankakee Community College and for one season for the Alcorn State Braves.
In 1979, he participated in the Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox, where he was among the first 100 people to run onto the field and he slid into third base. During the ensuing riot his silver belt buckle was stolen while he was stealing a baseball bat from the dugout.
==Career==
Duncan took other security jobs while in Los Angeles while trying to get some acting work in commercials. During this time, he worked as a bodyguard for celebrities like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and The Notorious B.I.G., all the while doing bit parts in television and films. When rapper Notorious B.I.G. was killed in 1997, Duncan quit the personal-protection business.
After having begun his career with several bit parts playing bouncers in films such as Bulworth and A Night at the Roxbury, Duncan first came to prominence when he was cast as Bear in the blockbuster Michael Bay action film Armageddon (1998). During the production of the film, Duncan struck up a friendship with castmate Bruce Willis and it was Willis' influence that helped him to get his breakout role as gentle giant John Coffey in the Frank Darabont film The Green Mile (1999). Starring alongside Tom Hanks, Duncan's performance netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.
Following his role as Coffey, Duncan was then cast in a string of films that helped to establish him as an actor in both action and comedy roles: The Whole Nine Yards (2000), See Spot Run (2001), Planet of the Apes (2001), The Scorpion King (2002), and Daredevil (2003), in the last of which he played The Kingpin from Marvel Comics.
When Duncan was cast as the Kingpin in 2002, he faced the dual challenge of portraying a typically white character and having to gain to fit the character's large physique. In July 2006, Duncan showed interest in returning for the role of the Kingpin, but stated that he would not be willing to regain the weight that he had lost. In 2009, he stopped eating meat and later appeared in a PETA ad campaign, touting the health benefits and his increased strength from a vegetarian diet."Green Mile Star Joins Veggie Campaign ," KSHB.com, 12 May 2012.
In 2005, Duncan appeared in two action films, The Island and Sin City where he played Manute, a powerful mobster. Critic Roger Ebert singled out Duncan for praise for his role in The Island, writing that "[Duncan] has only three or four scenes, but they're of central importance, and he brings true horror to them."Ebert, Roger (2005). "The Island", Chicago Sun Times, 22 July 2005, accessed 13 September 2012 Duncan appeared in a supporting role in the 2006 comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as Lucius Washington and, in 2009, Duncan played Balrog in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and starred as the titular Cleon "Slammin Salmon in Broken Lizard's farce The Slammin' Salmon.
Famous for his deep, resonant voice, Duncan also did voice roles for films such as Brother Bear (2003) and its sequel, Brother Bear 2 (2006), Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Green Lantern (2011) playing the voice of Kilowog from DC Comics alongside Ryan Reynolds.
His other voice roles include' TV series such as Loonatics Unleased and Operation: Z.E.R.O., Quiznos commercials, and a number of video games such as Demon Stone, SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs, The Suffering: Ties That Bind, Saints Row, Soldier of Fortune, and God of War II, where he provided the voice of the Titan Atlas. He additionally reprised his role as the Kingpin in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series.
In addition to his film roles, Duncan also guest starred in numerous television shows. Among these, he appeared in an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and a first-season episode of CSI: NY. In 2008, he appeared as "Mr. Colt" in the second-season premiere of Chuck, "Chuck Versus the First Date" and as a guest star on two episodes of Two and a Half Men. Most notably, in April 2011, Duncan guest starred on an episode of TV series Bones as Leo Knox which, in 2012, led to Duncan receiving his first starring role as the same character in the spinoff series The Finder. The Bones Season 8 episode "The Partners in the Divorce", which aired three weeks after his death, was dedicated to him.
During the week of May 14, 2012, Duncan appeared as a guest on the late night talk show The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson when the show was taping for a week in Scotland. Duncan was one of the show's most frequent guests, appearing a total of 18 times, and, the day after Duncan's death in September, Ferguson began his show with a tribute to him. In January 2013 during The Late Late Shows winter break, reruns of the Scotland episodes were broadcast with a tribute to Duncan at the beginning of each of the five episodes, featuring Duncan on a pink background and the text "In memory of our friend Michael Clarke Duncan."
==Personal life==
At the time of his death, Duncan was engaged to reality television personality Omarosa Manigault.
In 2013, Manigault appeared in the cast of The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and played in Duncan's honor for his favorite charity and one he had benefited from himself, the Sue Duncan Children's Center. In episode 2 of the season, Manigault won $40,000 for the charity.
=== Death ===
thumb|upright=0.75|Crypt of Duncan at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills
On July 13, 2012, Duncan was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. Media reports suggested that his girlfriend, Omarosa Manigault Newman, had tried to save his life by performing CPR. Duncan's publicist, Joy Fehily, issued a statement on August 6 that read he was moved from the intensive-care unit but remained hospitalized following his heart attack. On September 3, Duncan died in Los Angeles.
Seven months after his death and according to his family, Omarosa was under suspicion for changing his will and testament. They also claim that Omarosa manipulated Duncan in his final days, lied about her engagement and sold his belongings without the family's knowledge.
Following Duncan’s death, many memorials used one of his most famous lines from The Green Mile: “Heaven. I’m in heaven.”
==Filmography==
===Films===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1995	Friday 	Craps Player 	Uncredited
1997	Back in Business 	Huge Guard 	
1998	Caught Up 	BB 	
1998	The Players Club 	Bodyguard 	Credited as Big Mike Duncan
1998	Bulworth 	Bouncer 	Credited as Michael "Big Mike" Duncan
1998	Armageddon 	Bear 	
1998	A Night at the Roxbury 	Roxbury Bouncer 	Credited as Michael "Big Mike" Duncan
1999	The Underground Comedy Movie 	Gay Virgin 	
1999	Breakfast of Champions 	Eli 	Credited as Michael Duncan
1999	The Green Mile 	John Coffey 	Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorSaturn Award for Best Supporting ActorBlack Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion PictureNominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough PerformanceNominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2000	The Whole Nine Yards 	Franklin 'Frankie Figs' Figueroa 	
2001	See Spot Run 	Murdoch 	
2001	Cats & Dogshttps://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Michael-Clarke-Duncan/	Sam 	Voice only
2001	Planet of the Apes 	Attar 	
2002	The Scorpion King 	Balthazar 	
2003	Daredevil 	Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin 	
2003	George of the Jungle 2 	Mean Lion 	Voice onlyDirect-to-video
2003	Brother Bear 	Tug 	Voice only
2003	Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time 	Future Wade 	Voice only
2004	D.E.B.S. 	Mr. Phipps 	
2004	George and the Dragon 	Tarik 	
2004	Pursued 	Franklin 	
2005	Sin City 	Manute 	
2005	Racing Stripes 	Clydesdale 	Voice only
2005	The Longest Yard 	Thomas Tatum/Quake 	Voice only
2005	Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone 	Stinktooth 	Voice only
2005	The Island 	Starkweather Two Delta/Jamal Starkweather	
2005	Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story 	The Stork 	Voice onlyDirect-to-video
2005	The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses 	Big Daddy 	Voice onlyDirect-to-video
2006	Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 	Lucius Washington 	
2006	Brother Bear 2 	Tug 	Voice onlyDirect-to-video
2006	School for Scoundrels 	Lesher 	
2006	One Way 	The General 	
2006	Air Buddies 	Wolf 	Voice only
2007	The Last Mimzy 	Nathanial Broadman 	
2007	Slipstream 	Mort/Phil Henderson/Patrolman 	
2008	Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins 	Otis 	
2008	Delgo 	Elder Marley 	Voice only
2008	Kung Fu Panda 	Commander Vachir 	Voice only
2008	American Crude 	Spinks 	
2009	The Slammin' Salmon 	Cleon Salmon 	
2009	Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li 	Balrog/M. Bison (Japan) 	
2010	Redemption Road 	Augy 	
2010	Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 	Sam 	Voice only
2011	Cross 	Erlik 	Direct-to-video
2011	A Crush on You 	Big Jim Nelson 	
2011	Legend of Kung Fu Rabbit 	Slash 	Voice only
2011	Green Lantern 	Kilowog 	Voice only
2012	From the Rough 	Roger 	Posthumous release in the United States on 2014
2012	In the Hive 	Mr. Hollis 	
2013	A Resurrection 	Addison 	Posthumous release seven months after Duncan's death
2015	The Challenger 	Duane 	Posthumous release, Duncan's last performance in a film
===Television===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1995 	Renegade 	Shake 	Episode: "Living Legend"
1995 	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 	Tiny 	Episode: "Bourgie Sings the Blues"
1995 	Married... with Children 	Bouncer 	Episode: "Flight of the Bumblebee"
1996 	Skwids 	Body Builder 	
1996 	Weird Science 	Cardinal Carnage 	Episode: "Men in Tights"
1997 	The Jamie Foxx Show 	Inmate 	Episode: "Little Red Corvette"
1997 	Sparks 	Frank 	Episode: "Self Defense"
1997 	The Wayans Bros. 	Big Mike 	Episode: "I Do..."
1997 	Living Single 	Security Guard 	Episode: "High Anxiety"
1997 	Built to Last 	 	Episode: "A Family Affair"
1998 	Arliss 	Lucian Balboa 	Episode: "Fans First"
1999 	Sister, Sister 	Big Earl 	Episode: "Before There Was Hip Hop..."
2001 	They Call Me Sirr 	Coach Griffin 	Television film
2002 	King of the Hill 	Coach Webb 	Episode: "The Son Also Roses"
2003, 2005 	The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius 	Commander Baker 	Voice onlyEpisode: "My Big Fat Spy Wedding" and "Operation: Rescue Jet Fusion"
2003 	Spider-Man: The New Animated Series 	The Kingpin / Wilson Fisk 	Voice onlyEpisode: "Royal Scam" and "Keeping Secrets"
2003 	The Proud Family 	Mongo 	Voice onlyEpisode: "Smackmania 6: Mongo vs. Mama's Boy"
2004 	Static Shock 	Rashid 'The Rocket' Randall 	Voice onlyEpisode: "Linked"
2004 	The Fairly OddParents 	Rockwell 	Voice onlyEpisode: "Crash Nebula"
2004 	George Lopez 	Dr. Holland 	Episode: "George to the Third Power"
2005–2007 	Loonatics Unleashed 	Massive 	Voice only4 episodes
2005 	Teen Titans 	Hayden/Krall 	Voice onlyEpisode: "Cyborg the Barbarian"
2005 	CSI: NY 	Quinn Sullivan 	Episode: "The Closer"
2006–2007, 2012	Family Guy 	Black Co-Worker/Boy on Mushrooms/Fozzie Bear/The Stork	4 episodes
2006 	Minoriteam 	Balactus 	Episode: "Balactus: Part 1" and "Balaztus: Part 2"
2008–2009 	Two and a Half Men 	Jerome 	Episode: "The Two Finger Rule" and "The Mooch at the Boo"
2008 	The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 	Coach Little 	Episode: "Benchwarmers"
2008 	Chuck 	Colt 	Episode: "Chuck Versus the First Date"
2011 	Bones 	Leo Knox 	Episode: "The Finder"
2012 	The Finder 	Leo Knox 	13 episodes
2012 	The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange	Chunkee Cheeses / Marshmallow King 	Voice only2 Episodes
2013 	Ultimate Spider-Man 	Groot 	Voice onlyEpisode: "Guardians of the Galaxy" Posthumous release
===Video games===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1995	Varuna's Forces 	Carl Tomas 	Unreleased title for 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Atari Jaguar CD, Dreamcast, PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn
1995	Panic in the Park 	Security Guard 	
2000	Star Trek: Klingon Academy 	Opening Movie Klingons	
2000	Soldier of Fortune 	Hawk 	
2003	SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs 	SEAL Operative WARDOG 	Credited as Michael Clark Duncan
2003	Brother Bear 	Tug 	
2004	Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone	Slaad Lord Ygorl 	
2005	The Suffering: Ties That Bind	Blackmore 	
2006	Saints Row 	Benjamin King 	
2007	God of War II 	Atlas 	
2013	Saints Row IV 	 	Credited as Benjamin King in the game's credits in memoriam to him, Duncan was set to reprise his role as King in IV, with some voice work already done for the game before his death. During the game's credits, the song "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie is played as all the cast members sing along, the song fades out with Duncan's track. He was replaced by Terry Crews.
===Music videos===
Year	Artist 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1994	Quo 	"Huh What" featuring Redman (rapper)	 	
1995	R. Kelly featuring The Isley Brothers	"Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" 	Security Guard	Cameo appearance
==References==
==External links==
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Category:1957 births
Category:2012 deaths
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:African-American male actors
Category:Alcorn State Braves basketball players
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:Bodyguards
Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Category:Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
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