Life in Film: Michael Clarke Duncan

See his journey from celebrity bodyguard to Oscar nominee.

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)
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)
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)
"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)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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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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