Michael Clarke Duncan Has Passed

2012/09/03 22:29:23 +00:00 | Jonathan James

We are incredibly sad to report on the passing of Michael Clarke Duncan today at the early age of 54. According to a recent story, he passed away this morning in his Los Angeles hospital room. This is said to be a result of him not fully recovering from the cardiac arrest he suffered in the middle of July. However, this happened suddenly, as his condition was improving.

Michael Clarke Duncan leaves behind a body of TV and film work that will be remembered for generations to come. Some of starring roles include parts in Armageddon, Planet of the Apes, The Scorpion King, Daredevil, Sin City, and most recently The Finder.

For horror fans, he'll probably be best remembered for playing the role of John Coffey in the film adaptation of Stephen King's The Green Mile. He also received an Academy Award nomination for the role in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Our thoughts are with his friends, family, and fiancee Omarosa Manigault.  This news is still very new and we plan to update this story with any service details and comments from those who knew him.

*Updated: Here are comments from Frank Darabont via AICN:

"I’m devastated at the loss of Michael Clarke Duncan, one of the finest people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with or know. Michael was the gentlest of souls—an exemplar of decency, integrity, and kindness. The sadness I feel is inexpressible.

Our experience making THE GREEN MILE together was immersive and incredible, a once-in-a-lifetime journey. What sticks most in my mind was his devotion to his craft and the strides he made as an artist during that time, which was beyond inspiring to those of us who took the journey with him. Never has an actor more richly deserved the recognition of an Academy Award nomination than Michael did for his performance as John Coffey.  

Michael has left us far, far too soon. We lost a great man and a great spirit today. My thoughts and condolences go out to his fiancée Omarosa and to his family."

**Updated with comments from Michael Bay:

I'm really bummed at losing such a great guy in my life today, Michael Clarke Duncan.

I gave him his first big movie role in Armageddon as Bear. We found him in a gym. He cried at the first audition because he was so proud to audition for a "Michael and Jerry movie", he just wanted to make his mom proud. We gave him the role in the room. 

His first day on Armageddon he sucked. I remember looking to Ben Affleck and thinking we might need to fire him. But I told him "Mike, I hired you for you, I want the sweet, Mr Clarke Duncan I met in that room". I said, "the audience is going to fall in love with you".

He looked and smiled with deep voice and said "Ok".

From then on out he became the most improved actor on the set. That was the award he got at the end of the film. Everyone loved him, his infectious spirit and great belly laugh.

It was a great time I will always remember, how proud I was to watch him grow into an actor. Watching him study all the guys from Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck to Steve Buscemi, and Owen Wilson. When he said in the movie he " wanted to stay in the White House for the summer" he killed it. In his N.A.S.A. evaluation I told him to cry like a baby. He looked at me with his macho Duncan eyes and said "Mike I can't do that" I said "yes you can" and it became the biggest laugh in the movie.

I'm really sad to lose him. Rest in peace buddy.

Michael Bay

Source: TMZ