A Big Man For Larger Role

Michael Clarke Duncan has the life that dreams are made of.

The Academy Award nominee gave up his day job with a gas company years ago to pursue a career in Hollywood. He has since starred opposite such movie stars, such as Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg and, pop culture icon, The Rock.

This time, he explained on The Early Show, he teams up with Ben Affleck and plays the notorious "Kingpin" in the comic book action film, "Daredevil."

When the producer and director of "Daredevil" initially approached him to play Kingpin, Duncan says, he thought they had the wrong man. Duncan is a 6-foot, 5-inch, 290-pound African-American, while Kingpin is a 6-foot, 7-inch, 450-pound Caucasian.

But Ducan says director Mark Steven Johnson believed he could pull it off. After that, Duncan says, he never thought of Kingpin's size or color.

"Daredevil" tells the story of attorney Matt Murdoch (Affleck) and his pursuit to battle crime in New York City's Hells Kitchen. Murdoch was blinded as a child, but he gained a sonic sense because of the freak accident. As a man, Murdoch trains to become a fighting machine. He wears a red leather costume and carries a high-tech weapon to become "Daredevil," the man without fear.

Thanks to years of training and discipline, the Kingpin is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant with an unusual agility for a man his size. He is also a mastermind who runs criminal activities in the city. The combination is more than a match for Daredevil.

Through a regiment of eating and power lifting, Duncan says, he gained the bulk and strength necessary to complete the look of his character.

Duncan says he was a fan of the comic hero Daredevil as a child, and he enjoys the fact that the superhero comes from humble beginnings. It is something he can relate to.

Some Facts About Michael Clarke Duncan

• Duncan was born in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 10, 1957
• Duncan moonlighted as a bouncer
• Duncan debuted as an actor in a beer commercial
• In 1995, Duncan made his film debut as a bouncer in "Friday"; he made his primetime TV debut as a guest in sitcom, "The Fresh Prince of
  Bel Air"
• In 1998, Duncan earned a role in the action adventure flick "Armaggedon," the first movie in which he worked with Ben Affleck
• In 1999, he made his breakthrough screen role as a death row inmate John Coffey in "The Green Mile"; he earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for the role
• In 2000, Duncan re-teamed with Willis for "The Whole Nine Yards"
• In 2001, Duncan portrayed a football coach in the Showtime biopic "They Call Me Sirr"; he also co-starred with Mark Wahlberg in the remake of "Planet of the Apes"
• In 2002, Duncan was cast as Balthazar in "The Scorpion King"