Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise have led the tributes to their The Green Mile co-star Michael Clarke Duncan following his death on Monday, with Hanks hailing his late pal as a "treasure" and a "magic" talent.
The actor, a former bodyguard, never fully recovered from a cardiac arrest he suffered at his home in Los Angeles in July and he passed away in hospital on Monday morning.
Duncan's famous friends flocked to Twitter.com after hearing the news, with Sinise writing, "Had the pleasure of working on 2 things with Michael Clark Duncan. The Green Mile, & as guest star on CSI: NY. A real gentleman. R.I P my friend."
Michael Clarke Duncan (L) Tom Hanks (C) and producer Tom Jacobson following the world premiere of The Ladykillers in 2004
Several stars shared their personal memories of Duncan, with Olivia Munn telling her fans, "Michael Clarke Duncan always had a smile on his face & a big bear hug ready for you. My thoughts & prayers are with his family & friends", comedienne Niecy Nash recalled, "We shared sum (some) great times! C (see) u (you) on the other side friend" and David Boreanaz simply stated: "R.I.P. my friend MCD. I will miss you."
Holly Robinson Peete mourned, "Devastated... RIP Michael Clarke Duncan. Heaven has an amazing new angel. I will miss your smile most", La Toya Jackson tweeted, "My prayers are with the family and to the loved ones of Michael Duncan Clark. What a kind sweet & loving guy you were! May you R.I.P" and Jordin Sparks declared, "RIP Michael Clarke Duncan. Thank you for being so kind to me & for sharing your talent with the world. You will be truly missed."
Donald Faison offered, "Michael Clarke Duncan I'll never forget you. Such an awesome man taken way too soon. Rest in peace my friend" and Christian Slater admitted he was shocked by his friend's passing: "Can't believe it MCD! What a good man! Always a laugh! He will be greatly missed."
Tom Hanks, left, Michael Clarke Duncan, center, and David Morse in The Green Mile.
Mia Farrow, Russell Simmons, Bobby Brown, Gabrielle Union, Timbaland, Ricki Lake and Katharine McPhee also offered their tributes on Twitter, while Hanks opened up about his memories of Duncan for Entertainment Tonight.
He told the show, "I am terribly saddened at the loss of Big Mike. He was the treasure we all discovered on the set of The Green Mile. He was magic. He was a big love of man and his passing leaves us stunned."
The Green Mile director Frank Darabont admits he is "devastated" about Duncan's death, and writes in a statement, "(He was) one of the finest people I've ever had the privilege to work with or know. Michael was the gentlest of souls - an exemplar of decency, integrity and kindness. The sadness I feel is inexpressible.
"Our experience making The Green Mile together was immersive and incredible, a once-in-a-lifetime journey. What sticks most in my mind was his devotion to his craft and the strides he made as an artist during that time, which was beyond inspiring to those of us who took the journey with him. Never has an actor more richly deserved the recognition of an Academy Award nomination than Michael did for his performance as John Coffey.
"Michael has left us far, far too soon. We lost a great man and a great spirit today. My thoughts and condolences go out to his fiancee, Omarosa, and to his family."
