Hollywood lost a gifted actor on Monday with the passing of Michael Clarke Duncan. According to the Associated Press, the Academy Award Nominee died at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he was being treated for a heart attack he had back in July but never really recovered. He was 54.
Duncan received an Academy Award for his starring role as death row inmate John Coffey in The Green Mile, alongside fellow co-star Tom Hanks. He starred in numerous other movies and television shows. His film credits include Armageddon, The Whole Nine Yards, Breakfast of Champions, Planet of The Apes, Kung Fu Panda, The Scorpion King and Sin City.
The 6 -foot-Four muscular Chicago native got his start in the business as a bodyguard with the touring stage play Beauty Shop 2. He once served in that capacity for celebs Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and The Notorious B.I.G. He gave up being a bodyguard when he let a friend fill in for him and The Notorious B.I.G. was killed.
Michael Clarke Duncan was engaged to reality TV star Omarosa Manigualt (The Apprentice). At press time funeral services had not been announced. My prayers are with Ms. Manigualt, his family and friends.