--- name: "Michael Clarke Duncan" canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-clarke-duncan" fi1m_id: "michael-clarke-duncan" imdb_id: "nm0003817" tmdb_id: 61981 wikidata_id: "Q483148" roles: ["Actor"] born: "10 December 1957" died: "3 September 2012" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 65 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-20T04:06:07.679419+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Michael Clarke Duncan ## Identity Michael Clarke Duncan - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-clarke-duncan - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** michael-clarke-duncan - **IMDb ID:** nm0003817 - **TMDB ID:** 61981 - **Wikidata ID:** Q483148 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Clarke_Duncan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q483148, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003817/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/61981 Actor. Born 10 December 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Died 3 September 2012. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 10 December 1957, Chicago, Illinois, USA - **Died:** 3 September 2012 - **Active:** 1998–2008 - **Also known as:** Michael Duncan, Michael Clark Duncan, Michael C. Duncan, Michael 'Big Mike' Duncan - **Frequently works with:** [Ben Affleck](https://film.one/person/ben-affleck.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 68 (2), 2000s 64 (5) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 64 to 54 across 6 titles - **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 3, Adventure 3, Animation 2, Comedy 2, Crime 2, Drama 2 - **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $2,244m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Clarke_Duncan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q483148, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003817/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/61981 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Brother Bear*](https://film.one/film/brother-bear.md) (56), [*Planet of the Apes*](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes-2001.md) (40) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Kung Fu Panda*](https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda.md) (77) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Michael Clarke Duncan > Michael Clarke Duncan could make physical strength look unexpectedly vulnerable. We value that tenderness more than the familiar intimidation, and wish more of his films had given him as much to do as *The Green Mile* did. *Sin City* (2005) casts Michael Clarke Duncan as Manute, an enforcer whose physical threat needs little explaining. Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's hard black-and-white images make direct use of his size. The deep voice helps, too, though seeing him employed this way so often makes us wish casting directors had been less easily satisfied. We rate Duncan most when a film lets the formidable man be vulnerable. *Armageddon* (1998) had brought the breakthrough, with Duncan playing Bear in Michael Bay's asteroid disaster film. The cast makes a fair amount of the foolishness enjoyable, and we would count his presence among the reasons to stay. Bay's frantic cutting, however, leaves little room to settle with the actors. The laboured tenderness is another obstacle across 151 minutes, so our recommendation remains qualified. It is worth considering for the company, provided the disaster-film appetite is already there. Bruce Willis's recommendation led to his casting as John Coffey in *The Green Mile* (1999), the role that brought wider recognition. Duncan's size was still central, but the part also allowed him quiet vulnerability. We were moved by Coffey because Duncan made his strength seem no protection against hurt. The subsequent studio roles did not consistently ask as much of him. Attar in *Planet of the Apes* (2001) and Kingpin in *Daredevil* (2003) put him back among enforcers and authority figures. *Sin City* gives that familiar casting a persuasive setting: its blunt comic-book figures belong in those hard images. We prefer it to *Armageddon*, though the repeated brutality becomes wearing and another imposing figure cannot cure that. There is pleasure in seeing Duncan used so decisively, but we would send anyone curious about his acting to *The Green Mile* first. ## Biography Michael Clarke Duncan was an American actor. He began his career with small roles, often as bouncers or bodyguards, after working in security. He appeared as Bear in the 1998 film *Armageddon*. The role led to his performance as John Coffey in *The Green Mile* (1999), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and a Golden Globe nomination. Other credits include *Sin City* (2005), *Daredevil* (2003) as Kingpin, and voice work in *Kung Fu Panda* (2008) and *Brother Bear* (2003). Duncan was born in Chicago, Illinois, and died in 2012. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Kung Fu Panda* (2008), Fi1m 77, as Commander Vachir (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda.md) - *Chuck* (2007), Fi1m 73, as Colt — [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md) - *Sin City* (2005), Fi1m 75, as Manute — [page](https://film.one/film/sin-city.md) - *Brother Bear* (2003), Fi1m 56, as Tug (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/brother-bear.md) - *Planet of the Apes* (2001), Fi1m 40, as Attar — [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes-2001.md) - *The Green Mile* (1999), Fi1m 73, as John Coffey — [page](https://film.one/film/the-green-mile.md) - *Armageddon* (1998), Fi1m 64, as Bear — [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md) ## Complete filmography (79) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Challenger* (2015), as Dune - *From the Rough* (2013), as Roger - *A Resurrection* (2013), as Addison - *In the Hive* (2012), as Mr. Hollis - *The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange* (2012), series, as Chunkee Cheeses (voice) - *The Finder* (2012), series, as Leo Knox - *Redemption Road* (2011), as Augy - *Green Lantern* (2011), as Kilowog (voice) - *A Crush on You* (2011), as 'Big Jim' Nelson - *Cross* (2011), as Erlik - *Your Highness* (2011), as The Giant Troll - *Fish Hooks* (2010), series, as Guardian Cat (voice) - *Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore* (2010), as Sam (voice) - *The Slammin' Salmon* (2009), as Cleon Salmon - *Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li* (2009), as Balrog - *Delgo* (2008), as Elder Marley (voice) - *Kung Fu Panda* (2008), as Commander Vachir (voice) — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda.md) - *American Crude* (2008), as Spinks - *Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins* (2008), as Sheriff Otis Jenkins - *Chuck* (2007), series, as Colt — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md) - *The Making of God of War II* (2007), as Atlas - *Slipstream* (2007), as Mort / Phil Henderson / Patrolman - *The Last Mimzy* (2007), as Nathaniel Broadman - *Air Buddies* (2006), as Wolf (voice) - *One Way* (2006), as The General - *School for Scoundrels* (2006), as Lesher - *Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby* (2006), as Lucius Washington - *Brother Bear 2* (2006), as Tug (voice) - *Minoriteam* (2005), series, Actor - *2005 Chicago White Sox: The Official World Series Film* (2005), as narrator - *Loonatics Unleashed* (2005), series, as Massive (voice) - *Bones* (2005), series, as Leo Knox — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md) - *Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story* (2005), as The Stork (voice) - *The Island* (2005), as Starkweather Two Delta / Jamal Starkweather - *Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone* (2005), as Stinktooth (voice) - *The Golden Blaze* (2005), as Thomas Tatum (voice) - *Sin City* (2005), as Manute — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/sin-city.md) - *D.E.B.S.* (2005), as Mr. Phipps - *The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses* (2005), as Big Daddy (voice) - *Racing Stripes* (2005), as Clydesdale (voice) - *Pursued* (2004), as Franklin - *CSI: NY* (2004), series, as Quinn Sullivan - *George and the Dragon* (2004), as Tarik - *Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time* (2003), as Future Wade (voice) - *Brother Bear* (2003), as Tug (voice) — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/brother-bear.md) - *R. Kelly: The R. in R&B - The Video Collection* (2003), as Henchman (segment "Down Low") - *Jimmy Neutron: Operation: Rescue Jet Fusion* (2003), as Commander Baker (voice) - *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, as Jerome — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md) - *George of the Jungle 2* (2003), as Mean Lion (voice) - *Teen Titans* (2003), series, as Krall / Hayden (voice) - *Spider-Man: The New Animated Series* (2003), series, as Wilson Fisk / The Kingpin (voice) - *Daredevil* (2003), as Kingpin / Fisk - *The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius* (2002), series, as Commander Baker (voice) - *The Scorpion King* (2002), as Balthazar - *George Lopez* (2002), series, as Dr. Holland - *They Call Me Sirr* (2001), as Coach Griffin - *Planet of the Apes* (2001), as Attar — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes-2001.md) - *Cats & Dogs* (2001), as Sam (voice) - *See Spot Run* (2001), as Murdoch - *Static Shock* (2000), series, as Rashid 'The Rocket' Randall (voice) - *The Whole Nine Yards* (2000), as Franklin 'Frankie Figs' Figueroa - *The Green Mile* (1999), as John Coffey — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-green-mile.md) - *The Underground Comedy Movie* (1999), as Gay Virgin - *Breakfast of Champions* (1999), as Eli - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Fozzie Bear (voice), Boy on Mushrooms (voice), Black Co-Worker (voice), Stork (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *A Night at the Roxbury* (1998), as Roxbury Bouncer - *Armageddon* (1998), as Bear — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md) - *Bulworth* (1998), as Bouncer - *The Players Club* (1998), as Bodyguard - *Caught Up* (1998), as BB - *Back in Business* (1997), as Huge Guard - *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Coach Webb (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md) - *The Jamie Foxx Show* (1996), series, as Inmate - *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Lucian Balboa - *Friday* (1995), as Craps Player (uncredited) - *The Wayans Bros.* (1995), series, as Big Mike - *Sister, Sister* (1994), series, as Big Earl - *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Man in the Bar - *Married... with Children* (1987), series, as Bouncer ## Gallery - ![Michael Clarke Duncan](https://film.one/media/person/88013/gallery-1962a4074023.jpg) Michael Clarke Duncan — Movieguide®, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/MClarkeDuncan021109-R106_%2850094589037%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Crypt of Michael Clarke Duncan at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/88013/gallery-ed2f85b37b06.jpg) Crypt of Michael Clarke Duncan at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. (2014) — Arthur Dark, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Michael_Clarke_Duncan_Grave.JPG/1280px-Michael_Clarke_Duncan_Grave.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Clarke Duncan](https://film.one/media/person/88013/gallery-24d30e7a484f.jpg) Michael Clarke Duncan — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Clarke Duncan](https://film.one/media/person/88013/gallery-f3404bcef2d8.jpg) Michael Clarke Duncan — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Clarke Duncan](https://film.one/media/person/88013/gallery-610b34842825.jpg) Michael Clarke Duncan — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2000: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Green Mile* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-clarke-duncan