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Duncan was born inChicago and raised in a single-parent household along with his sister, Judy, by his mother, Jean Duncan (a house cleaner) after his father left.[1][2] When he was young, he wanted to play football and tried out for theChicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) but decided to become an actor instead when his mother refused to let him play, fearing he would get injured.[3] He always wanted to act but had to drop out of the communications program atAlcorn State University to support his family when his mother became ill.[4]
Duncan's large frame, 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) and 315 pounds (143 kg) helped him in his jobs digging ditches forPeoples Energy and as a bouncer at several Chicago clubs.[5] He also played basketball atKankakee Community College and, for one season, for theAlcorn State Braves.[6]
In 1979, he participated in theDisco Demolition Night atComiskey Park, home of theChicago White Sox, where he was among the first 100 people to run onto the field and slide into third base.[7] During the ensuing riot, his silver belt buckle was stolen[8] while he was stealing a baseball bat from the dugout.[9]
When Duncan was cast as Kingpin in 2002,[13] he faced the dual challenge of portraying a typically white character,[14][15] having to gain 40 pounds (18 kg) to fit the character's large physique. In July 2006, Duncan showed interest in returning for the role of Kingpin, but stated that he would not be willing to regain the weight that he had lost.[16] In 2009, he stopped eating meat and later appeared in aPETA ad campaign, touting the health benefits and his increased strength from avegetarian diet.[17][18]
In 2005, Duncan appeared inThe Island andSin City, in which he played Manute, a powerful mobster. Critic Roger Ebert praised him for his performance inThe Island, writing that '[Duncan] has only three or four scenes, but they're of central importance, and he brings true horror to them.'[19] Duncan appeared in a supporting role in the 2006 comedyTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as Lucius Washington, and in 2009, he playedBalrog inStreet Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and starred as the titular Cleon "Slammin'" Salmon inBroken Lizard's farceThe Slammin' Salmon.
In addition to his film roles, Duncan guest starred in a number of television shows including an episode ofThe Suite Life of Zack & Cody and a first season episode ofCSI: NY.[20] In 2008, he appeared as Mr. Colt in the second season premiere ofChuck, "Chuck Versus the First Date"[21] and as a guest star on two episodes ofTwo and a Half Men. Most notably, in April 2011, he guest starred on an episode of the TV seriesBones as Leo Knox, which, in 2012, led to him receiving his first starring role as the same character in the spinoff seriesThe Finder. TheBones Season 8 episode "The Partners in the Divorce", which aired three weeks after his death, was dedicated to him.
During the week of May 14, 2012, Duncan appeared as a guest on the late night talk showThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson when the show was taping for a week in Scotland. Duncan was one of the show's more frequent guests, appearing a total of 18 times, and, the day after Duncan's death in September, Ferguson began his show with a tribute to him. In January 2013, duringThe Late Late Show's winter break, reruns of the Scotland episodes were broadcast with a tribute to him at the beginning of each of the five episodes featuring his photo on a pink background and the text "In memory of our friend Michael Clarke Duncan."
At the time of his death, Duncan was dating reality television personalityOmarosa Manigault.[23] His family later claimed that Omarosa changed hiswill and testament.[24][25] They also claimed that Omarosa manipulated Duncan in his final days, lied about their engagement, and sold his belongings without the family's knowledge.[26][27] In 2013, Omarosa appeared in the cast ofThe All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and played in Duncan's honor for his favorite charity and one he had benefited from himself, theSue Duncan Children's Center. In episode two of the season, Omarosa won $40,000 for the charity.[28]
Duncan was taken toCedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a heart attack on July 13, 2012.[29] By August 6, 2012, he had been moved from the intensive care unit but remained hospitalized.[30] On September 3, 2012, while in the hospital, Duncan died of respiratory failure. He was 54 years old.[31]
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