Overview (4)

Mini Bio (1)

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.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: anon-14

Trade Mark (7)

Deep commanding voice



Towering height and muscular frame



Often plays gentle giants



Known for his especially good natured demeanor



Due to his imposing size often portrayed brutal villains



Shaved head



Bright, beaming smile



Trivia (23)

Duncan supposedly gave $5.00 to anyone who recognized him on the street and knew what his full name was.





Considered becoming a police officer with the LAPD, which was revealed during an interview on Live with Kelly and Ryan (1988).

He attended Alcorn State University in Mississippi, but dropped out to support his family when his mother became ill. Duncan had an older sister named Judith. Duncan also worked as a security guard for a theatre troupe.



Duncan had played basketball at Kankakee Community College. After college, he spent several years digging ditches for the gas company in Chicago.





For his role as the criminal mastermind behemoth Kingpin in Daredevil (2003), Duncan put on 40 lbs. to his already-largely-built physique.



While filming The Scorpion King (2002), Duncan was accidentally hit by Dwayne Johnson during a fight sequence. He leaned in too far for a hit and his chin connected with Johnson's elbow.

He tried out for the Chicago Bears in the mid-1980s. He wanted to try out at for one of the linebacker positions but the coaches chose to see how he would perform at tight end.



He narrated the 2005 Major League Baseball World Series Film, featuring the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox.



On July 12, 1979, during the Disco Demolition Night fiasco at Comiskey park, Duncan ran onto the field and slid into third base.





His Daredevil character, Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, first appeared as an enemy of Spiderman until Frank Miller made him a major enemy of Daredevil. Duncan has played him opposite both characters, on the animated series Spider-Man (2003) and in Daredevil (2003).

Duncan had five cats and a chinchilla named Chucky.



Duncan was a blue belt in Brazilian jujitsu.



Moonlighting as a bouncer and guard at various clubs on Chicago's South Side, he met one of the producers of the touring stage show, "Beauty Shop, Part 2" and was hired as the producer's personal security. Although he often asked for the opportunity to act in the play, the producer never gave him the chance.





Was hospitalized on July 13, 2012 in Los Angeles after suffering cardiac arrest. His fiancée, Omarosa Manigault , started CPR immediately and resuscitated him. Almost two months later, Michael died on September 3, 2012 from complications following the cardiac arrest.



Engaged to Omarosa Manigault from February 2012 until his death in September 2012.



He is survived by his mother, Jean; his sister, Judith; and by his fiancée, actress Omarosa Manigault



Duncan shared two roles with Dennis Haysbert : Green Lantern, Kilowog and Manute in the "Sin City" films.



Was good friends with actor and professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson

Following his death, he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles, California.





Duncan had appeared in three comic book feature film adaptations, from three different comic book publishers: He played the DC Comics character Kilowog in Green Lantern (2011), the Dark Horse character, Manute in Sin City (2005), and the Marvel Comics character, Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin in Daredevil (2003).

He was often in movies with Bruce Willis Amrageddon, the whole 9 nines yards and sin city.



Personal Quotes (2)

My sister [Judith] used to say I had a frail chest and she'd beat me up all the time.

