Michael Clarke Duncan's Most Memorable Roles

Beginning his career as a bouncer for big names like Will Smith and Jamie Foxx, Michael Clarke Duncan found bit parts in films playing to his stature. (Many of his credits are simply listed as “Bouncer.”) But he bagged his first big role playing another physically big character: Bear in disaster flick ‘Armageddon.’ The film launched him into notoriety, and helped him bag the role that would officially make him, well, big. [Touchstone Pictures]

Thanks to a friendship with ‘Armageddon’ star Bruce Willis, Duncan bagged a role as innocent death row inmate John Coffey in ‘The Green Mile.’ Duncan may have played opposite superstar Tom Hanks, but it was the newbie actor who garnered the most headlines for his performance, eventually earning Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for the role.

The newly A-list actor reteamed with old A-list friend Willis for the crime caper about a hitman who moves next door to a dentist. Playing again to his appearance, Duncan played an enforcer — and did enough to force audiences to the theaters to see the hit comedy.

In Tim Burton’s critical and commercial thud, Duncan played gorilla military officer Col. Attar. Likely not a film he ever wanted to ape in his future, but ‘Planet’ managed to help cement Duncan as one of Hollywood’s best casting gets.

Fans of muscles found a royal treat in ‘The Mummy’ spin-off, featuring strongmen (and close friends) Duncan and The Rock. Critics might have dismissed the film, but audiences crawled to the theater in droves, earning the film $36 million its first weekend in theaters.

Unfortunately, Duncan followed up ‘Scorpion’ with a film that was a flop both critically and commercially. But as the Kingpin, Duncan was the one bright light that ‘Daredevil’ fans could see. Impressive, considering Duncan’s nerves surrounding taking the role as the villain, who was white in the original comic.

Duncan continued his foray into beloved book franchises with the adaptation of Frank Miller’s ‘Sin City.’ Appearing in “The Big Fat Kill” vignette, the actor played a sinfully intimidating mercenary who kidnaps Rosario Dawson’s Gail. [Dimension Films]

The actor has the unique distinction of being immediately recognizable by his physical appearance AND his voice. Duncan took advantage of the latter by accepting numerous voiceover roles in video games like ‘God of War II’ and projects like ‘Brother Bear,’ ‘Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation ZERO,’ and DreamWorks’ successful ‘Kung Fu Panda,’ in which he plays a rhinoceros prison commander.

Duncan bagged another big voiceover role — and dipped into comics fare once again — in superhero adaptation ‘Green Lantern,’ playing drill sergeant Kilowog.

After a healthy career on the big screen, Duncan found his way onto the small screen, starring in ‘Bones’ spin-off, ‘The Finder’ with Geoff Stults. The series, however, couldn’t find enough fans, and was canceled four months after its run. Still, Duncan devotees can continue to look forward to his appearance in projects like ‘In the Hive’ and ‘The Challenger.’