Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan (December 10, 1957 – September 3, 2012) was an American actor best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and other honors. He also played Kingpin in Daredevil and Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (both 2003). In addition, he appeared in movies such as Armageddon (1998), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), Planet of the Apes (2001), The Scorpion King (2002), Sin City (2005), and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), as well as in the role of Leo Knox in the television series Bones (2011) its spin-off The Finder (2012); and also in episodes of Two and a Half Men. His voice roles in films included Brother Bear (2003), The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses (2005), Brother Bear 2 (2006), Kung Fu Panda (2008), and Green Lantern (2011); he had the voice role of Benjamin King in the video game Saints Row (2006).

Early life Duncan was born in Chicago and raised in a single-parent household along with his sister, Judy, by his mother, Jean Duncan (a house cleaner) after his father left. When he was young, he wanted to play football for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) but decided to become an actor instead when his mother refused to let him play, fearing he would get injured. He always wanted to act but had to drop out of the communications program at Alcorn State University to support his family when his mother became ill.

Duncan's large frame, and helped him in his jobs digging ditches for Peoples Energy and as a bouncer at several Chicago clubs. He also played basketball at Kankakee Community College and, for one season, for the Alcorn State Braves.

In 1979, he participated in the Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox, where he was among the first 100 people to run onto the field and slide into third base. During the ensuing riot, his silver belt buckle was stolen while he was stealing a baseball bat from the dugout.

Career Duncan took various security jobs in Los Angeles while trying to get some acting and modeling work in commercials. During this time, he worked as a bodyguard for celebrities like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and The Notorious B.I.G., all the while doing bit parts in television and films. When rapper Notorious B.I.G. was killed in 1997, Duncan quit the personal protection business.

After beginning his career with several bit parts playing bouncers in films such as Bulworth and A Night at the Roxbury, Duncan came to prominence when he was cast as Bear in the blockbuster Michael Bay action film Armageddon (1998). During the production of the film, he became friends with cast mate Bruce Willis, and it was Willis' influence that helped him get his breakout role as the gentle giant John Coffey in the Frank Darabont film The Green Mile (1999). Starring with Tom Hanks, Duncan's performance netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.

Following his role as Coffey, Duncan was then cast in a string of films that helped to establish him as an actor in both action and comedy roles: The Whole Nine Yards (2000), See Spot Run (2001), Planet of the Apes (2001), The Scorpion King (2002) and Daredevil (2003), where he played Kingpin.

When Duncan was cast as Kingpin in 2002, he faced the dual challenge of portraying a typically white character, having to gain to fit the character's large physique. In July 2006, Duncan showed interest in returning for the role of Kingpin, but stated that he would not be willing to regain the weight that he had lost. In 2009, he stopped eating meat and later appeared in a PETA ad campaign, touting the health benefits and his increased strength from a vegetarian diet.

In 2005, Duncan appeared in The Island and Sin City, in which he played Manute, a powerful mobster. Critic Roger Ebert praised him for his performance in The Island, writing that '[Duncan] has only three or four scenes, but they're of central importance, and he brings true horror to them.' Duncan appeared in a supporting role in the 2006 comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as Lucius Washington, and in 2009, he played Balrog in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and starred as the titular Cleon "Slammin Salmon in Broken Lizard's farce The Slammin' Salmon.

With his deep voice, Duncan did voice roles for films such as Brother Bear (2003) and its sequel Brother Bear 2 (2006), Kung Fu Panda (2008), and Green Lantern (2011); playing the voice of Kilowog from DC Comics alongside Ryan Reynolds.

His other voice roles include TV series such as Loonatics Unleashed and Operation: Z.E.R.O., Quiznos commercials, and a number of video games such as Demon Stone, SOCOM II U.S. Navy SEALs, The Suffering: Ties That Bind, Saints Row, Soldier of Fortune, and God of War II, where he provided the voice of the Titan Atlas. He additionally reprised his role as the Kingpin in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series.

In addition to his film roles, Duncan guest starred in a number of television shows including Coach Little in an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and a first season episode of CSI: NY. In 2008, he appeared as Mr. Colt in the second season premiere of Chuck, "Chuck Versus the First Date" and as a guest star on two episodes of Two and a Half Men. Most notably, in April 2011, he guest starred on an episode of the TV series Bones as Leo Knox, which, in 2012, led to him receiving his first starring role as the same character in the spinoff series The Finder. The Bones Season 8 episode "The Partners in the Divorce", which aired three weeks after his death, was dedicated to him.

Personal life

Duncan trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California, and held a purple belt. At the time of his death, Duncan was dating reality television personality Omarosa Manigault. His family later claimed that Omarosa changed his will and testament. They also claimed that Omarosa manipulated Duncan in his final days, lied about their engagement, and sold his belongings without the family's knowledge. In 2013, Omarosa appeared in the cast of The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and played in Duncan's honor for his favorite charity and one he had benefited from himself, the Sue Duncan Children's Center. In episode two of the season, Omarosa won $40,000 for the charity.

Death

Duncan was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a heart attack on July 13, 2012. By August 6, 2012, he had been moved from the intensive care unit but remained hospitalized. On September 3, 2012, while in the hospital, Duncan died of respiratory failure. He was 54 years old.

On September 10, 2012, a private funeral was held for Duncan in Los Angeles. Among the attendees at his memorial service were Tom Hanks, comedian Jay Leno, and professional wrestler Mark Henry, the latter having served as one of the pallbearers. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills.

Filmography

Films Year Title Role Notes 1995 Friday Craps Player (uncredited) 1997 Back in Business Huge Guard 1998 Caught Up "Big Black" The Players Club Bodyguard Credited as Big Mike Duncan Bulworth Bouncer Credited as Michael "Big Mike" Duncan Armageddon "Bear" A Night at the Roxbury Roxbury Bouncer Credited as Michael "Big Mike" Duncan 1999 The Underground Comedy Movie Gay Virgin Breakfast of Champions Eli Credited as Michael Duncan The Green Mile John Coffey Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorSaturn Award for Best Supporting ActorBlack Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion PictureNominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough PerformanceNominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2000 The Whole Nine Yards Franklin "Frankie Figs" Figueroa 2001 See Spot Run Murdoch Cats & Dogs Sam Voice Planet of the Apes Colonel AttarThey Call Me Sirr Coach Griffin TV movie 2002 The Scorpion King Balthazar 2003 Daredevil Wilson Fisk / "Kingpin" George of the Jungle 2 Mean Lion Voice, direct-to-video Brother Bear Tug Voice Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time Future Wade 2004 D.E.B.S. Mr. Phipps George and the Dragon Tarik Pursued Franklin 2005 Racing Stripes Clydesdale Voice Sin City Manute The Golden Blaze Thomas Tatum / "Quake" Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone Stinktooth Voice, direct-to-video The Island Starkweather Two Delta / Jamal Starkweather Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story The Stork Voice, direct-to-video The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses Big Daddy 2006 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Lucius Washington Brother Bear 2 Tug Voice, direct-to-video School for Scoundrels Lesher One Way The General Air Buddies Wolf Voice 2007 The Last Mimzy Nathanial Broadman Slipstream Mort / Phil Henderson / Patrolman 2008 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Otis Jenkins Delgo Elder Marley Voice Kung Fu Panda Commander Vachir American Crude Spinks 2009 The Slammin' Salmon Cleon Salmon Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Balrog / M. Bison (Japan) 2010 Redemption Road Augy Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Sam Voice; cameo 2011 Cross Erlik Direct-to-video A Crush on You Jim "Big Jim" Nelson TV movie Green Lantern Kilowog Voice Legend of Kung Fu Rabbit Slash Voice; English dub posthumously released in September 2013 2012 In the Hive Mr. Hollis Posthumous release 2013 A Resurrection Addison From the Rough Roger 2015 The Challenger Duane Taylor Posthumous release; final film role

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995The Bold and the Beautiful "Slash" 2 episodes Renegade "Shake" Episode: "Living Legend" The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air "Tiny" Episode: "Bourgie Sings the Blues" Married... with Children Bouncer Episode: "Flight of the Bumblebee" 1996 Skwids Body Builder Weird Science Cardinal Carnage Episode: "Men in Tights" 1997 The Jamie Foxx Show Inmate Episode: "Little Red Corvette" Sparks Frank Episode: "Self Defense" The Wayans Bros. Mike "Big Mike" Episode: "I Do..." Living Single Security Guard Episode: "High Anxiety" Built to Last Unknown Episode: "A Family Affair" 1998 Arliss Lucian Balboa Episode: "Fans First" 1999 Sister, Sister Earl "Big Earl" Episode: "Before There Was Hip Hop..." 2002 King of the Hill Coach Webb Episode: "The Son Also Roses" 2003–2005 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Commander Baker Voice, 2 episodes 2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Wilson Fisk / "Kingpin" Voice, episode: "Royal Scam" The Proud Family Mongo Voice, episode: "Smackmania 6: Mongo vs. Mama's Boy" 2004 Static Shock Rashid "The Rocket" Randall Voice, episode: "Linked" The Fairly OddParents Rockwell Voice, episode: "Crash Nebula" George Lopez Dr. Holland Episode: "George to the Third Power" 2005–2007 Loonatics Unleashed Massive Voice, 3 episodes 2005 Teen Titans Hayden / Krall Voice, episode: "Cyborg the Barbarian" CSI: NY Quinn Sullivan Episode: "The Closer" 2006–2012 Family Guy Black Co-Worker / Boy On Mushrooms / Wrong-Sounding Fozzie Bear / The Stork Voice, 4 episodes 2006 Minoriteam Balactus Episode: "Balactus: Part 1" and "Balaztus: Part 2" 2008–2009 Two and a Half Men Jerome Burnette Episodes: "The Mooch at the Boo", "The Two Finger Rule" 2008 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Coach Little Episode: "Benchwarmers" Chuck Colt Episode: "Chuck Versus the First Date" 2011 Bones Leo Knox Episode: "The Finder" 2012 The Finder Leo Knox 13 episodes The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange Chunkee Cheeses / Marshmallow King Voice, 2 episodes 2013 Ultimate Spider-Man Groot Voice, episode: "Guardians of the Galaxy"; Posthumous release; dedicated in memory Fish Hooks Guardian Cat Voice, episode: "Labor of Love" Posthumous release

Video games Year Title Role Notes 1995 Varuna's Forces Carl Tomas Unreleased title for 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Atari Jaguar CD, Dreamcast, PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn Panic in the Park Security Guard 2000 Star Trek: Klingon Academy Opening Movie Klingons Soldier of Fortune "Hawk" 2003 SOCOM II U.S. Navy SEALs SEAL Operative WARDOG Credited as Michael Clark Duncan Brother Bear Tug 2004 Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone Slaad Lord Ygorl 2005 The Suffering: Ties That Bind "Torque" \ Blackmore 2006 Saints Row Benjamin King 2007 God of War II Atlas 2013 Saints Row IV Benjamin King Credited as Benjamin King in the game's credits in memoriam to him

Music videos Year Artist Title Role Notes 1994 Quo featuring Redman "Huh What" 1995 Quo "Quo Funk" R. Kelly featuring The Isley Brothers "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" Security Guard Cameo