Raised by his single mother on Chicago's South Side, Michael grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. He wanted to play football in high school, but his mother wouldn't let him, fearing he would get hurt. He then turned to acting, dreaming of becoming a famous actor. After graduating from high school and attending community college, he worked digging ditches at Peoples Gas Company in Chicago. When he quit his job and headed to Hollywood, he landed small roles while working as a - www.imdb.com

At 6'5" and in excess of 300 pounds, Michael Clarke Duncan cuts an imposing figure and it comes as no surprise that his resume includes stints working in security. But this gentle giant, a jovial man with a warm personality and keen sense of humor proved his mettle as a screen actor with his powerful performance as the death row inmate John Coffey in "The Green Mile" (1999), Frank Darabont's adaptation of the Stephen King novel. The Chicago native was encouraged by his mother to pursu - movies.yahoo.com