Michael Clarke Duncan - Michael Clarke Duncan Dead At 54

The larger-than-life former bodyguard passed away on Monday morning (03Sep12).

The actor's representative tells Tmz.com Duncan never fully recovered from a cardiac arrest he suffered at home in Los Angeles in July (12).

His fiancee, reality TV star Omarosa Manigault, was with him in hospital when he passed away.

Duncan's rep says, "She is grateful for all of your prayers and asks for privacy at this time. Celebrations of his life, both private and public, will be announced at a later date."

The hulking star had become a vegetarian in recent years in an effort to stay fit and healthy, but his fiancee had to resuscitate him via Cpr after finding him in a state of cardiac arrest at his L.A. home in the early hours of 13 July (12).

He was taken to a nearby hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. He has been under doctors' care ever since.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Duncan moved to Hollywood chasing an acting dream and became a bodyguard to stars like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx. He quit as a minder after a friend was with rap star The Notorious B.I.G. the night he was shot and killed in 1997.

Duncan landed his big acting break in 1998 among the stars of Armageddon. A year later he wowed the critics as convict John Coffey in The Green Mile. He also appeared in Daredevil, The Scorpion King and comedy The Whole Nine Yards.