R.I.P. TAKING THE GREEN MILE ACTOR MICHAEL CLARK DUNCAN DEAD AT 54

This is such sad and tragic new to report on this labor day.  Clarke died Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was being treated for a heart attack, said his fiancée, Reverend Omarosa Manigault, in a statement released by publicist Joy Fehily.

The muscular, 6-foot-4 Duncan, a former bodyguard who turned to acting in his 30s, "suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered," the statement said. "Manigault 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."

Michael Clarke Duncan, the hulking, prolific character actor whose dozens of films included an Oscar-nominated performance as a death row inmate in "The Green Mile" and such other box office hits as "Armageddon," ''Planet of the Apes" which is one of our favorites he starred in  and "Kung Fu Panda," is dead at age 54.

Duncan had a handful of minor roles before "The Green Mile" brought him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. 

The 1999 film, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, starred Tom Hanks as a corrections officer at a penitentiary in the 1930s. Duncan played John Coffey, a convicted murderer with a surprisingly gentle demeanor and extraordinary healing powers.

Omarosa saved Duncan's life by performing CPR on him at the time of the heart attack in July but he never fully recovered and was still hospitalized at the time of his death.

Both public and private memorials are being planned, and Duncan's Hollywood friends are already expressing their grief.

"RIP Michael Clarke Duncan," tweeted Jordin Sparks. "Thank you for being so kind to me & for sharing your talent with the world. You will be truly missed."

Dule Hill wrote, "Life is so precious. A talented brother and a kind spirit. RIP Michael Clarke Duncan."

 And Mario Lopez tweeted that Duncan was "One of the nicest & most professional guys I've had the pleasure of knowing. So sad…"