Actor Michael Clarke Duncan dead at the age of 54

In the most surprising piece of news over Labor Day weekend, everyone learned that actor Michael Clarke Duncan passed away at the age of 54 on Monday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The sudden death came after two months of hospitalization for a heart attack the actor suffered on July 13th.

A statement released from publicist Joy Fehily said that the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Duncan "suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered."

Duncan grew up on the South side of Chicago with his sister, Judy, and mother, Jean. After attending Alcorn State University for a short time, he worked as a ditch digger and nightclub bouncer before moving to Los Angeles in 1995 to pursue an acting career. He was a bodyguard for actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence before gaining attention for a role in 1998's Armageddon.

He's had a storied career that includes big movies, voice acting in video games and animated movies, and tv shows. In addition to Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, The Island, Planet of the Apes, and The Whole Nine Yards, Michael Clarke Duncan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe for his role in The Green Mile — the 1999 movie where he portrayed death-row inmate John Coffey.

The world will miss his warming smile and loving personality. Our thoughts go out to his family and fiancee, reality TV personality Rev. Omarosa Manigault.

You can follow Movies and Culture Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ

[Source: The Washington Post]