Michael Clarke Duncan Passes at Age of 54

Both the Associated Press and USA Today are reporting the passing of actor Michael Clarke Duncan today, as confirmed by his fiancee Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, after complications from a heart attack earlier this sumer.

Prior to a late start in acting, Duncan grew up in Chicago's South Side, and credited his mother as keeping him clear of a life filled with gangs, drugs, and alcohol. He would later attend college in Mississippi, but would leave to support his mother who was facing health problems. He quit his job and became a security guard before finding work as a body guard for numerous celebrities, including Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. He began landing small roles (often as a bouncer or security guard) in movies like "Night at a Roxbury," and "Bulworth."

He would eventually land a part in "Armageddon" where he made friends with Bruce Willis, who played a major role in helping Duncan land what many consider his breakout role in "The Green Mile," the role for which he earned an Oscar nomination. The role helped validate Duncan in the eyes of Hollywood as a serious actor. Following "The Green Mile," he would go on roles in other feature films like "The Scorpion King," and "The Whole Nine Yards."

Beyond his more dramatic, and arguably notable roles in titles like "Green Mile," Duncan was armed with a booming voice to match his towering six foot five inch frame, both of which he gladly lended to numerous films like "Green Lantern" and "Daredevil." He worked on numerous other sci-fi, comic book, and videogame adaptation films like Frank Miller's "Sin City," "Planet of the Apes," and "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li."

He was rumored to be reprising his role as Manute for the "Sin City" sequel, titled, "A Dame to Kill For," currently in production. With Duncan gone, I for one know that neither the film, or Hollywood, will ever be the same.

He is survived by his mother Jean, sister Judith, and fiancee Omarosa. R.I.P. Mr. Duncan.