Actor Michael Clarke Duncan has been hospitalized in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack.
His publicist Joy Fehily says in a brief email statement that Michael Clarke Duncan “suffered a myocardial infarction” early Friday.
Joy Fehily says his heart rate has stabilized and he’s expected to make a full recovery.
She would not confirm a TMZ report that Michael Clarke Duncan’s actress-girlfriend, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, discovered the former bodyguard in distress at about 2:00 a.m. Friday in his Los Angeles area home.
The website reports Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth revived The Green Mile star by performing CPR.
The former The Apprentice star, who has been dating the 54-year-old actor since 2010, is understood to be by his bedside in an intensive care unit.
Her representative Priscilla Clarke confirmed Michael Clarke Duncan was hospitalized today but did not provide any further details regarding his condition or how he was found.
Kent Moran, who directed Michael Clarke Duncan in The Challenger, says the actor recently wrapped scenes on the action drama, in which he stars as a trainer helping to revive the career of boxer Jaden Miller.
Kent Moran, who also stars as Miller in the film, described Michael Clarke Duncan as “very healthy” on set and said he coped well with the physicality of the role, adding that news of the actor falling ill was “unexpected”.
He added: “We were very surprised and saddened to here the news. Our film is now in post production and we have finished filming Michael’s scenes. So at this point, we are really just praying for him and wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Michael Clarke Duncan meanwhile hinted at his health issues in a public service announcement released by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in May.
The PSA, which promotes vegetarianism as a means to prevent heart disease and stroke, features Michael Clarke Duncan saying he was plagued with several illnesses before making the dietary change approximately three years ago.
He does not elaborate on his health problems in the clip.
The actor says watching film Meet Your Meat, about the process of animal protein production, helped him to decide to stop eating meat.
“I never knew what the process was from that animal to my plate,” he says.
“Once I looked at an animal like that I cleared out my refrigerator of about $5,000 worth of meat.”
Michael Clarke Duncan catapulted to fame after his role in 1999 prison drama The Green Mile. He is also well-known for his roles in the 2003 comic book movie Daredevil and 2005 release Sin City.
He is currently starring in TV drama The Finder.
