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Michael Clarke Duncan - This Chicago-born actor had an incredible journey from being a celebrity bodyguard for the likes of Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx to becoming a celebrity himself. Sadly, Michael Clarke Duncan passed away on September 6 after complications from a heart attack back in July. Here, we take a look at Duncan's amazing career. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup

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Friday (1995) - It all started with a tiny, uncredited role in Ice Cube's breakout hit. At the time, Duncan was still moonlighting as Biggie's bodyguard, but started racking up small roles on the side. (Photo: Courtesy of New line Cinema)

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Caught Up (1998) - Duncan had a slightly larger role in his next film, starring Bokeem Woodbine and Cynda Williams, about a man who can't seem to escape a life of crime no matter his best efforts.  (Photo: Courtesy of Live Entertainment)

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The Player's Club (1998) - Duncan once again pulled from personal experience for his small role as a bodyguard in The Player's Club, the campy drama about a shoe salesgirl-turned-stripper. Still, Duncan got a chance to re-team with his Friday co-star Ice Cube, who wrote and directed the film. (Photo: Courtesy of New line Cinema)

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Armageddon (1998) - In his biggest role to date, Duncan played oil driller-turned-astronaut in Michael Bay's collossal blockbuster Armageddon. On set, he struck up a friendship with the film's star, Bruce Willis, who personally recommended him to Green Mile director Frank Darabont and changed the course of Duncan's career. (Photo: Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures)

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The Green Mile (1999) - In this breakthrough role, Duncan starred as gentle giant John Coffey, a prison inmate on death row for the rape of two white girls. He earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for his powerful performance. (Photo: Courtesy of Warner Brothers)

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The Whole Nine Yards (2000) - Duncan's first post-Green Mile role was as Chicago mob muscle man Frankie Figs, opposite America's most beloved sitcom star Matthew Perry. By this time, the actor had finally achieved household-name status. (Photo: Courtesy of Warner Brothers)

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The Scorpion King (2002) - Duncan got to work with close friend The Rock in this prequel to The Mummy. The actors went muscle-for-muscle as Egyptian-era enemies in the action epic. As Nubian king Balthazar, Duncan was possibly the only living actor who could intimidate The Rock with his size. (Photo: Courtesy of Universal Studios)

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"Down Low," from R. Kelly's The R in R&B (2003) - Forget the Oscar, for Michael Clarke Duncan fans nothing can top his cameo in the video for R. Kelly's "Down Low." In the blink-or-you-miss-it part, Duncan plays a henchman for Ron Isley, whose woman (Garcelle Beauvais) has something going with his bodyguard, none other than Mr. Kelly. The video has been immortalized on Kelly's DVD compilation The R in R&B. (Photo: Courtesy of Jive Records)

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Sin City (2005) - In this stylized crime thriller featuring a mega-ensemble cast, Duncan re-teams with his Armageddon co-star Bruce Willis as mercenary Manute, once again putting his considerable frame to good use. (Photo: Courtesy of Troublemaker Studios)

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Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008) - In this comedy, Duncan stars as big city radio sensation Roscoe Jenkins' (Martin Lawrence) simpleton brother Otis. When Roscoe returns to his sleepy Southern hometown ready to show off his deep pockets and soon-to-be wife, it's Otis who brings him down to Earth. (Photo: Courtesy of Universal Studios)

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In the Hive (2012) - In one of Duncan's final roles, he is the assistant director at a special school for at-risk youth. The actor will finally get a chance to transcend his physicality and show us what's inside. (Photo: Courtesy of V Studio)