Bio
Michael Clarke Duncan (10 December, 1957 – 3 September, 2012) was an American actor best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in the 1999 feature film The Green Mile, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
His best known television role was Leo Knox in the police procedural drama series The Finder, in 2012.
Duncan's performance as the gentle giant in the film The Green Mile received massive critical acclaim. This unforgettable performance has led to a career of diversified roles and worldwide praise.
Duncan can also be seen in the independent films The Sibling, a horror film co-starring Mischa Barton and Devon Sawa, and the sports drama From the Rough, starring Taraji P. Henson.
His film credits include the independent film Black, White and Blues, which he also co-produced, and the summer action film Green Lantern, in which he voiced the role of Kilowog.
No stranger to action films, he starred in the cult-actioner Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and starred opposite Martin Lawrence in the comedic film Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins.
Duncan was part of Anthony Hopkins' directorial debut in the ensemble drama Slipstream, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He also appeared in The Last Mimzy.
Additional film credits include the blockbuster comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby, alongside Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Sacha Baron Cohen; School For Scoundrels, opposite Billy Bob Thorton and Jon Heder; Michael Bay's action-thriller The Island, with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson; Robert Rodriguez' Sin City; the dark comedy D.E.B.S.; Daredevil, opposite Ben Affleck; The Scorpion King, opposite The Rock; Planet of the Apes, opposite Mark Wahlberg; See Spot Run, opposite David Arquette; The Whole Nine Yards, opposite Bruce Willis; Bulworth; The Player's Club; and A Night at the Roxbury.
Duncan also worked with Bruce Willis on the mega-hit film Armageddon. It was Willis who placed the call to director Frank Darabont to suggest Duncan for the critical role of John Coffey in The Green Mile.
Darabont had conducted a nationwide casting call, searching for the perfect actor to portray this character in the Stephen King adaptation. Duncan's acting prowess and kind demeanour won him this crucial role.
Portraying John Coffey won Duncan numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination, Golden Globe nomination, SAG nomination, Broadcast Film Critics Award, Saturn Award and Black Reel Award, to name a few. In addition, Duncan was recognised as the ShoWest Male Star of Tomorrow.
Duncan's television credits include roles on The Jamie Foxx Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Weird Science, Married... with Children, The Wayans Bros., Chuck and Two and a Half Men.
With an unmistakably deep voice, Duncan thrived as a voiceover actor as well. His voiceover film credits include Kung Fu Panda, Racing Stripes, Delgo and Dinotopia: Curse Of The Ruby Sunstone.
Previously, he voiced characters in Brother Bear, George of the Jungle 2, Cats & Dogs and Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore.
On 13 July, 2012, Duncan was taken to a hospital after suffering from a heart attack. He remained hospitalised following the heart attack and died on the morning of 3 September, 2012. He was 54.