Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan was an actor best known for his Oscar-nominated role as John Coffey in The Green Mile. Duncan attended Alcorn State University in Mississippi for communications but left early to help support his family. He later worked as a bodyguard before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Duncan started out with small roles in commercials and on TV shows like The Bold and the Beautiful and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air while also working security for celebrities including Will Smith and Jamie Foxx. His big break came in 1998 when he was cast as Bear in Armageddon (1999), which led to director Frank Darabont selecting him for the role of John Coffey in The Green Mile the following year. His performance earned him the Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

He went on to appear in films like Planet of the Apes (2001), Daredevil (2003), Sin City (2005), and The Challenger (2015). Duncan also lent his voice to animated projects such as Brother Bear (2003) and Kung Fu Panda (2008) and appeared on shows like Two and a Half Men and The Finder.

Duncan began dating reality TV star Omarosa Manigault in 2010

He died on September 3, 2012 from a heart attack.