Monday 3 September 2012

Green Mile actor Michael Clarke Duncan, 54, dies two months after suffering severe heart attack


Green Mile actor Michael Clarke Duncan, 54, dies two months after suffering severe heart attack

    Michael Clarke Duncan's fiancée says the Oscar-nominated star of The Green Mile has died while being hospitalised following a July heart attack.
Publicist Joy Fehily released a statement from Duncan's partner, the Rev. Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, saying the 54-year-old actor died on Monday morning in a Los Angeles hospital after nearly two months of treatment after the July 13 heart attack.
The 6ft 5in, 300 pound star appeared in dozens of films, including box office hits Armageddon, Planet of the Apes and Kung Fu Panda.
Tragedy: Michael Clarke Duncan, pictured on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in February, has died aged 54
Tragedy: Michael Clarke Duncan, pictured on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in February, has died aged 54
Duncan had a handful of minor roles before The Green Mile brought him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1999, but unfortunately he lost out to Michael Caine. 
The film, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, starred Tom Hanks as a corrections officer at a penitentiary in the 1930s. Duncan played John Coffey, a convicted murderer.
In July, Michael suffered a heart attack and remained in intensive care for several weeks after.
At the time, his representative Joy said in a statement: 'His family are firm believers in the power of prayer and have asked that you keep him in yours during this time.'
Hollywood success: Michael was nominated for an Oscar following his performance in 1999's The Green Mile
Hollywood success: Michael was nominated for an Oscar following his performance in 1999's The Green Mile
TMZ originally broke the story that Michael's 38-year-old girlfriend performed 'heroic CPR and re-started' the actor's heart at his LA home before he was rushed to the hospital.
'Everyday GOD continues to smile upon my luv Michael Clarke Duncan on this arduous road to recovery,' Omarosa tweeted last month to her 30,000 followers. 
'God is with us every step of the way!!'
The pair were together for two years and the former Apprentice contestant had been referring to the large star as 'my hubby' and 'my love' as she tended to his bedside.
Lovers: Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth referred to Michael as 'my hubby' although the pair were not yet married
Lovers: Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth referred to Michael as 'my hubby' although the pair were not married
According to TMZ, 'an army of people' were caring for Duncan, who was 'breathing above the respirator' and had a 'very strong heartbeat' after initial tests were performed on him.
Kent Moran, who directed Duncan in The Challenger, told MailOnline the actor recently wrapped on the action drama, in which he plays a trainer helping to revive the career of boxer Jaden Miller.
Moran, who also stars as Miller in the film, described Duncan as 'very healthy' on set and said he coped well with the physicality of the role, adding that news of the actor falling ill was 'unexpected.'
He added: 'We were very surprised and saddened to hear the news. Our film is now in post production and we have finished filming Michael's scenes. 
'So at this point, we are really just praying for him and wishing him a speedy recovery.'
Icon: Michael at a Grammys party in January 2010
Icon: Michael at a Grammys party in January 2010, and posing at a FOX event last August
Icon: Michael at a Grammys party in January 2010, and posing at a FOX event last August


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2197889/Michael-Clarke-Duncan-death-The-Green-Mile-star-dies-aged-54-following-months-treatment-July-heart-attack.html#ixzz25Rygg4wj