At 6 foot and 4 inches tall, Michael Clarke Duncan, Green Mile actor may have struck an imposing figure but he was an unassuming character, known as something of a gentle giant amongst those that knew him and worked with him. When he suffered a heart attack in July 2012, many assumed that he would recover. However, this turned out not to be the case and he passed away yesterday, aged 54, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, where he was being treated. His fiancée, the TV personality Rev. Omarosa Manigault has said that "celebrations of his life, both private and public, will be announced at a later date."
Already, Michael Clarke Duncan's co-stars and compadres have spoken at their sadness at losing such an admired member of the acting fraternity. Tom Hanks, who starred in Green Mile alongside Duncan, said that he was "terribly saddened at the loss of Big Mike," Washington Post reports. "He was the treasure we all discovered on the set of 'The Green Mile.' He was magic. He was a big love of man and his passing leaves us stunned." Olivia Munn posted a message on Twitter to pay tribute to the kind-hearted star, saying: "Michael Clarke Duncan always had a smile on his face & a big bear hug ready for you. My thoughts & prayers are with his family&friends. RIP."
Similarly, he was described by the talk show host Steve Harvey as "an incredible soldier in God's plan." Duncan may not have been the most prominent of Hollywood actors but it is clear that he has touched the lives of many that he has worked with over the years and will be remembered as a kind and gentle man.