Michael Clarke Duncan’s loved ones said their final goodbyes to the Oscar-nominated actor in L.A. Monday.
The Associated Press (via The New York Daily News) reports that Duncan, who passed away September 3 at the age of 54 — having never fully recovered from his July 13 heart attack — was laid to rest in Los Angeles Monday.
Tom Hanks, Holly Robinson-Peete and Jay Leno were some of the celebrities in attendance who had had the privilege of working with — and befriending — the man Stevie Wonder referred to as a “gentle giant” during a video performance honoring the Green Mile star shown during the memorial.
Duncan’s fiancee, Apprentice alum Omarosa Manigault, was also in attendance, and was overcome with emotion throughout the moving service.
The actor’s Green Mile costar Hanks and director Frank Darabont plus Leno each stood up and paid tribute to the deceased actor.
“Just to see such a pure heart and pure kindness, and to see it taken so early,” Leno said, choking back tears. “There are no sadder words than what might have been.”
