Oscar nominated actor Michael Clarke Duncan passed away earlier today. The 54 year-old died from complications from a heart attack he had earlier this summer. Duncan is best known for his roles in The Green Mile, Armageddon, and Talladega Nights—among many, many other films.
The actor did more than movie work. Blessed with powerful pipes, Duncan was also a voice actor, lending his vocal talents to an array of video games as well as cartoons. One of his first roles was actually in a 1995 adventure game.
After establishing himself as a Hollywood actor, Duncan continued to work in games. He voiced the character of Atlas in God of War II, Benjamin in the first Saints Row, a crime lord in survival horror game The Suffering: Ties That Bind, the character of Ygori in fantasy game Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone, and SEAL Operative Wardog in tactical shooter SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs. Other games he did voice work for include first-person-shooter Soldier of Fortune and Star Trek Klingon Academy.
One of his first professional acting gigs, however, was appearing as a security guard in Panic in the Park, with BayWatch star and Playboy Playmate Erika Eleniak. The PC adventure game had Erika play a set of twins—one evil, one not—in a potboiler about an old amusement park. You can see Duncan's debut in the gallery above as well as clip from God of War II.
Whether it was a cheesy PC adventure game or a big Hollywood production, Duncan's work was engaging, spirited, and often funny as well as moving. He will be missed.