Posted on 09/03/2012 7:31:22 PM PDT by the scotsman
'Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, who rose to prominence playing a death row inmate in the acclaimed film The Green Mile, has died at the age of 54.
Duncan suffered a heart attack in July and died at a hospital in Los Angeles after failing to recover.
A former bodyguard, the 6ft 4in (1.93m) Duncan was an imposing figure who played a wide variety of screen roles.
He was nominated for an Oscar in 1999 for The Green Mile, but also played action roles and voiced animated parts.
His versatility saw him team up with Bruce Willis to save the Earth in Armageddon, play it for laughs in the Will Ferrell racing car comedy Talladega Nights, and take a succession of roles in TV sitcoms, including Two and a Half Men.
He will be remembered primarily for his role alongside Tom Hanks in the adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Green Mile.
Duncan played convicted murderer John Coffey, a man possessed of a gentle demeanour and extraordinary healing powers.
His unexpected performance won him a nomination as best supporting actor and kick-started an acting career that only began once he gave up bodyguard work in his 30s.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
That sucks! I liked him. RIP big man.
Prayers for his friends and family
Too young!!! Gifted actor!!! Loved him!!! Rest in Peace, gentle giant!!! We’ll miss you!!!
Prayers up. RIP Michael.
I’m devastated. He seemed like a down to earth type of guy and a fantastic actor. He will be greatly missed. RIP.
Rest in peace, gentle soul.......
Oh no. Rest in peace Mr. Duncan.
Terrible, he was a great character actor and seemed like a great person.
His life’s story seemed to reach for “The American Dream”. And he did it.......despite his circumstances.
Rest in peace!
Well just damn. Mr Duncan, RIP, you will be missed.
Fabulous actor. RIP
Huge bummer.....:(
Liked him in Armageddon, but his performance in The Green Mile just about made me cry. I can’t imagine anyone else playing a finer John Coffey.
“I helped it.”
Just...dang.
Prayers for his family and friends. He will be missed.
I am sorry about Michael’s death. He was too large and it killed him. He needed to eat arugula and run 75 miles a month. Many do.
agreed...
The Green Mile just about made me cry. I can’t imagine anyone else playing a finer John Coffey.
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Agreed.
The local NBC 11PM news mentioned it, cited “The Green Mile”, “Armageddon” and while his picture was up said “Planet of the Apes”, I can just imagine the ‘hell’ Fox would have caught for the same.
He definitely was a real life “Gentle Giant”.
RIP
There is just not enough of some people.
I loved him in Armageddon. RIP.
“Gentle Giant” was exactly the way I thought of him, too. Perfect description.
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