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IMDbPro

Michael Clarke Duncan(1957-2012)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000104
Michael Clarke Duncan at an event for The Island (2005)
The Challenger TV Spot 1
Play trailer0:16
The Challenger (2015)
66 Videos
99+ Photos
Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. Raised by his single mother, Jean, a house cleaner, on Chicago's South Side, Duncan grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. He wanted to play football in high school, but his mother wouldn't let him, afraid that he would get hurt. He then turned to acting, dreaming of becoming a famous actor.

After graduating from high school and attending community college, he worked digging ditches at People's Gas Company in Chicago. When he quit his job and headed to Hollywood, he landed small roles while working as a bodyguard. Duncan's role in the movie Armageddon (1998) led to his breakthrough performance in The Green Mile (1999), when his Armageddon co-star Bruce Willis called director Frank Darabont, suggesting Duncan for the part of convict John Coffey. He landed the role, getting critical acclaim as well as many other Awards and Nominations, including an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

After suffering a heart attack on July 13, 2012, he was taken to a Los Angeles hospital in which his girlfriend Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth tried to save his life with CPR. Unfortunately, on September 3, 2012, Michael Clarke Duncan died at age 54 from respiratory failure.
BornDecember 10, 1957
DiedSeptember 3, 2012(54)
BornDecember 10, 1957
DiedSeptember 3, 2012(54)
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000104
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 4 wins & 16 nominations total

Photos279

Tom Hanks, David Morse, Barry Pepper, and Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile (1999)
Steve Buscemi, Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Will Patton, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Owen Wilson in Armageddon (1998)
Michael Clarke Duncan in Armageddon (1998)
Michael Clarke Duncan in Planet of the Apes: Rule the Planet (2001)
Michael Clarke Duncan and Lance Anderson in Planet of the Apes: Rule the Planet (2001)
Michael Clarke Duncan, Moby, and Shirley Manson in The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards (2000)
Michael Clarke Duncan in Sin City (2005)
Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile (1999)
Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Michael Clarke Duncan, Ken Hudson Campbell, and Greg Collins in Armageddon (1998)
Still of Michael Clarke Duncan and Kent Moran in The Challenger (September 11th, 2015).
Still of Kent Moran and Michael Clarke Duncan in The Challenger (September 11, 2015).
Charlie Sheen and Michael Clarke Duncan in Two and a Half Men (2003)

Known for

Movie Poster
The Green Mile
8.6
  • John Coffey
  • 1999
Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Benicio Del Toro, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, and Clive Owen in Sin City (2005)
Sin City
8.0
  • Manute
  • 2005
Liv Tyler, Bruce Willis, and Ben Affleck in Armageddon (1998)
Armageddon
6.7
  • Bear
  • 1998
Promo Poster
The Whole Nine Yards
6.7
  • Frankie Figs
  • 2000

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • The Challenger. In Theaters September 11th, 2015.
    The Challenger
    • Duane
    • 2015
  • Saints Row IV (2013)
    Saints Row IV
    • Benjamin King (voice, credit only)
    • Video Game
    • 2013
  • Fish Hooks (2010)
    Fish Hooks
    • Guardian Cat
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Ultimate Spider-Man (2012)
    Ultimate Spider-Man
    • Groot (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Michael Clarke Duncan, Tom Felton, Taraji P. Henson, and Ben Youcef in From the Rough (2013)
    From the Rough
    • Roger
    • 2013
  • Devon Sawa, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Mischa Barton in A Resurrection (2013)
    A Resurrection
    • Addison
    • 2013
  • The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange (2012)
    The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange
    • Chunkee Cheeses
    • Marshmallow King
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • In the Hive (2012)
    In the Hive
    • Mr. Hollis
    • 2012
  • Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Alex Borstein, and Seth MacFarlane in Family Guy (1999)
    Family Guy
    • Black Co-Worker
    • Boy on Mushrooms #1
    • Fozzie Bear (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2006–2012
  • The Finder (2012)
    The Finder
    • Leo Knox
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Legend of Kung Fu Rabbit (2011)
    Legend of Kung Fu Rabbit
    • Slash (voice)
    • 2011
  • Geoffrey Rush, Michael Clarke Duncan, Ryan Reynolds, and Mark Strong in Green Lantern (2011)
    Green Lantern
    • Kilowog (voice)
    • 2011
  • Mystery Girl (2011)
    Mystery Girl
    • 'Big Jim' Nelson
    • TV Movie
    • 2011
  • Cross (2011)
    Cross
    • Erlik
    • Video
    • 2011
  • David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel in Bones (2005)
    Bones
    • Leo Knox
    • TV Series
    • 2011

Producer

  • Redemption Road (2010)
    Redemption Road
    • co-producer
    • 2010

Soundtrack

  • Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher, Angus T. Jones, and Sergio Kato in Two and a Half Men (2003)
    Two and a Half Men
    • performer: "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart!", "Theme from Shaft" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 2009
  • The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses (2005)
    The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses
    • performer: "Creepy Crawlies/Stupid Stompers Reprise"
    • Video
    • 2005
  • Liv Tyler, Bruce Willis, and Ben Affleck in Armageddon (1998)
    Armageddon
    • performer: "Leaving On A Jet Plane" (uncredited)
    • 1998

Videos66

"Nuts"  from The Slammin' Salmon
Clip 0:44
"Nuts" from The Slammin' Salmon
"Zongo" from The Slammin' Salmon
Clip 0:52
"Zongo" from The Slammin' Salmon
"Swordfish" from The Slammin' Salmon
Clip 0:43
"Swordfish" from The Slammin' Salmon
"Meat Drapes" from The Slammin' Salmon
Clip 0:44
"Meat Drapes" from The Slammin' Salmon
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Clip 1:26
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Clip 1:39
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:31
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:05
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:18
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:14
Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:50
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:38
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Big Mike Duncan
  • Height
    • 6′ 5½″ (1.97 m)
  • Born
    • December 10, 1957
    • Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Died
    • September 3, 2012
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(respiratory failure)
  • Parents
    • Jean Duncan
  • Relatives
    • Judith Duncan(Sibling)
  • Other works
    TV commercial for Lincoln Town Car (2002)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 2 Interviews
    • 6 Articles
    • 3 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Duncan did bodyguard work for Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J and The Notorious B.I.G.; he let a friend take over for him the night Notorious B.I.G. got shot, which prompted him to quit that line of work.
  • Quotes
    My sister [Judith] used to say I had a frail chest and she'd beat me up all the time.
  • Trademarks
      Deep commanding voice
  • Nicknames
    • Hollywood
    • Big Mike
    • Papa Bear

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