After Dinner Speakers: Michael Clarke Duncan, Rubens Barrichello, Marti Webb

At 6'5" and in excess of 300 pounds, Michael Clarke Duncan cuts an imposing figure and it comes as no surprise that his resume includes stints working in security. But this gentle giant, a jovial man with a warm personality and keen sense of humor proved his mettle as a screen actor with his powerful performance as the death row inmate John Coffey in "The Green Mile" (1999), Frank Darabont's adaptation of the Stephen King novel. The Chicago native was encouraged by his mother to pursue acting, and despite obtaining a college degree in communications, Duncan found himself digging ditches for the local gas company. Moonlighting as a bouncer and guard at various clubs on the city's South Side, he met one of the producers of the touring stage show, "Beauty Shop, Part 2" and was hired as the producer's personal security. Although he often asked for the opportunity to act in the play, the producer would not let him. Landing in Los Angeles, Duncan decided to give showbiz a try and began to audition. Despite moments of despair, he stuck it out and began to land small roles in commercials (as a drill sergeant in a beer advertisement), on TV (e.g., playing a bouncer on Fox's "Married... With Children") and in films (i.e., cast again as bouncers in "Bulworth" and "A Night at the Roxbury", both 1998). Duncan landed a break when the actor originally tapped to play the appropriately named 'Bear' in "Armageddon" (1998) was not available and he was cast. In a go-for-broke move, just before his audition with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay, he poured a bottle of water over his head and then read for them; he was cast in the part. During the filming of "Armageddon", he was befriended by Bruce Willis and it was because of Willis that Duncan was cast in his breakthrough role. Having read the Stephen King novel and knowing that Darabont was casting "The Green Mile", Willis called the director and told him, "I've found your John Coffey." Duncan's auditions and screen test eventually sealed the deal and he went on to deliver a memorable portrait of a childlike man with paranormal abilities who finds himself on death row. Amidst an ensemble cast that included such strong personalities as Tom Hanks, David Morse, Sam Rockwell and James Cromwell, Duncan more than held his own, sparking the inevitable Oscar buzz which indeed came to pass. Duncan made the short list as one of the five nominees for Best Supporting Actor of 1999. Meanwhile, he and Willis continued their professional relationship as co-stars of the crime comedy "The Whole Nine Yards" (2000). In 2002, Duncan was cast in "The Scorpion King", a box-office smash directed by Chuck Russell and starring The Rock. The massive actor next appeared as the villainous mob boss Wilson 'The Kingpin' Fisk in the 2003 adaptation of the Marvel Comics superhero "Daredevil" opposite Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.