Green Mile actor Michael Clarke Duncan dies aged 54

RIP: Michael was in high spirits during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in February
Michael looked well while making an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in February

 

Michael Clarke Duncan, who was best known for his role in The Green Mile, has died after nearly two months of treatment following a heart attack in July.

Publicist Joy Fehily released a statement from Duncan’s partner, the Rev. Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, saying the 54-year-old actor died on Monday morning in a Los Angeles hospital.

Omarosa confirmed the news herself to Radar, saying: “I am devastated. He was the love of my life.”

The US website report that ‘both public and private memorials are being planned’.

Michael’s death came “very suddenly”, with TMZ reporting that Omarosa was present in the hospital room before momentarily leaving for a short period of time and when she returned he had died.

Her mother is believed to have been present when he passed.

Alongside Tom Hanks in The Green Mile

Michael’s Green Mile co-star Tom Hanks also released a heartfelt message, referring to the actor as “Big Mike.”

He said: “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.”

The 6ft 5in, 300 pound star appeared in dozens of films, including box office hits Armageddon, Planet Of The Apes and Kung Fu Panda.

As news of the tragic actor was revealed, celebrity tributes poured in via Twitter.

Outpouring of grief: Everyone from Olivia Munn to Evander Holyfield paid tribute to the actor

Remembering: Twitter tributes continued to flood in with the likes of Twilight stars Taylor Lautner and Peter Facinelli, and Jersey Shore star Snooki paying tribute