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.
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