Actor Michael Clarke Duncan died 3 September 2012, of lingering effects from a myocardial infarction for which he was hospitalized in July. Born 10 December 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, he won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2000 for his role in The Green Mile. For the same role, he was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award.

After ‘high school and community college, he worked physical labor in Chicago before quitting and heading to Hollywood. In movie-land, he worked as a bodyguard while earning small roles, starting with 1995’s Renegade. His breakthrough role was in 1998’s Armageddon.

Clarke was known for his size and deep voice, but his manager, Dan Spilo, told the Hollywood Reporter, “He was the only actor I ever knew that more often than not when fans came up to him, of any age or race or gender, they wouldn’t ask for an autograph, they’d want a hug. He had a heart as big as the world.”

His other genre roles include: Green Lantern (2011), Cross (2011), The Sibling (2011), Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), Delgo (2008), Slipstream (2007), The Last Mimzy (2007), Brother Bear 2 (2006), The Island (2005), Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone (2005), Teen Titans (2005), Crash Nebula (2004), George and the Dragon (2004), The Proud Family (2003), Brother Bear (2003), Daredevil (2003), The Scorpion King (2002), and Planet of the Apes (2001).

He is survived by his fiancee, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth.