Michael Clarke Duncan Dies Aged 54

Tom Hanks has led tributes to Michael Clarke Duncan, the US actor best known for playing a death row inmate in the 1999 drama The Green Mile. Duncan died at the age of 54, less than eight weeks after suffering a heart attack, a spokeswoman said. 

Hollywood star Hanks said he was "stunned" at the news of his passing.

I am terribly saddened at the loss of Big Mike. 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.

Duncan died at a hospital in Los Angeles, his fiance, the reality television star Omarosa Manigault, said in a statement provided by Duncan's publicist, Joy Fehily. "Manigault is grateful for all of your prayers and asks for privacy at this time," Fehily said. Details on the cause of Duncan's death were not released. He suffered a heart attack on July 13th and "never fully recovered," Fehily said.

Frank Darabont, who directed Duncan in The Green Mile, also paid tribute to the deep-voiced and hulking 6-foot-5 actor:

Michael was the gentlest of souls - an exemplar of decency, integrity and kindness. The sadness I feel is inexpressible.

Duncan's other main screen credits include the 2002 film The Scorpion King, the 2003 comic book movie Daredevil, and the 2005 release Sin City. He also did voice work for the 2008 animated film Kung Fu Panda, a decade after the former bodyguard's movie career took off with a small part in 1998 hit Armageddon.