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Michael Clarke Duncan, The Green Mile star, dies aged 54 | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Michael Clarke Duncan, the prolific character actor whose dozens of films included an Oscar-nominated performance as a death row inmate in The Green Mile, has died aged 54. | Michael Clarke Duncan, the prolific character actor whose dozens of films included an Oscar-nominated performance as a death row inmate in The Green Mile, has died aged 54. |
Duncan died on Monday at the Cedars-Sinai medical centre in Los Angeles, where he was being treated for a heart attack, according to his fiancee, Omarosa Manigault. | Duncan died on Monday at the Cedars-Sinai medical centre in Los Angeles, where he was being treated for a heart attack, according to his fiancee, Omarosa Manigault. |
The muscular, 6ft 4in Duncan – a former bodyguard who turned to acting in his 30s – "suffered a myocardial infarction on 13 July and never fully recovered", said a statement issued by a spokesman. | The muscular, 6ft 4in Duncan – a former bodyguard who turned to acting in his 30s – "suffered a myocardial infarction on 13 July and never fully recovered", said a statement issued by a spokesman. |
"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." | "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." |
Earlier this year Duncan had appeared in a video for Peta, the animal rights organisation, in which he spoke of how well he felt since becoming a vegetarian three years earlier. | Earlier this year Duncan had appeared in a video for Peta, the animal rights organisation, in which he spoke of how well he felt since becoming a vegetarian three years earlier. |
"I cleared out my refrigerator, about $5,000 worth of meat," he said. "I'm a lot healthier than I was when I was eating meat." | "I cleared out my refrigerator, about $5,000 worth of meat," he said. "I'm a lot healthier than I was when I was eating meat." |
Duncan had a handful of minor roles before The Green Mile brought him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. | Duncan had a handful of minor roles before The Green Mile brought him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. |
The 1999 film, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, starred Tom Hanks as a guard at a prison in the 1930s. | The 1999 film, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, starred Tom Hanks as a guard at a prison in the 1930s. |
Duncan played John Coffey, a convicted murderer with a surprisingly gentle demeanour and extraordinary healing powers. | Duncan played John Coffey, a convicted murderer with a surprisingly gentle demeanour and extraordinary healing powers. |
Duncan's performance impressed critics and moviegoers and he quickly became a favourite in Hollywood, appearing in several films a year. | Duncan's performance impressed critics and moviegoers and he quickly became a favourite in Hollywood, appearing in several films a year. |
He owed some of his good fortune to Bruce Willis, who recommended Duncan for The Green Mile after the two appeared together in Armageddon. | He owed some of his good fortune to Bruce Willis, who recommended Duncan for The Green Mile after the two appeared together in Armageddon. |
Duncan would work with Willis again in Breakfast of Champions, The Whole Nine Yards and Sin City. | Duncan would work with Willis again in Breakfast of Champions, The Whole Nine Yards and Sin City. |
He also appeared in the superhero film Daredevil and in comedies including Talladega Nights and School for Scoundrels. | He also appeared in the superhero film Daredevil and in comedies including Talladega Nights and School for Scoundrels. |
His gravelly baritone alone was good enough for several animated movies, including Kung Fu Panda, Delgo and Brother Bear. | His gravelly baritone alone was good enough for several animated movies, including Kung Fu Panda, Delgo and Brother Bear. |
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 become an actor. | 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 become an actor. |
But when his mother became ill, he dropped out of college and worked as a ditch digger and bouncer to support her. | But when his mother became ill, he dropped out of college and worked as a ditch digger and bouncer to support her. |
By his mid-20s, he was working as a bodyguard for Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and other stars in Los Angeles. | By his mid-20s, he was working as a bodyguard for Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and other stars in Los Angeles. |
He decided to quit that line of work – and pursue acting full-time – after the murder of rapper Notorious BIG, whom Duncan had been hired to protect before switching assignments. | He decided to quit that line of work – and pursue acting full-time – after the murder of rapper Notorious BIG, whom Duncan had been hired to protect before switching assignments. |
Tom Hanks said: "I am terribly saddened at the loss of Big Mike. He was the treasure we all discovered on the set of The Green Mile. He was magic. He was a big love of a man and his passing leaves us stunned." |