Actor’s scheduled memorial is accompanied by an alleged extortion plot.
It has been confirmed that actor Michael Clarke Duncan died of natural causes.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a doctor has signed the Green Mile star’s death certificate. On Tuesday, Craig Harvey of the coroner's office said that there was nothing to suggest officials needed to review the case. It was noted that Duncan had heart problems and was under medical care.
Duncan, 54, died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack in July. He did not recover following the attack.
A private, invitation-only memorial for Duncan has been scheduled for next Monday. Famed preacher Bishop Charles Blake will lead the ceremony and Dr. H. Beecher Hicks is slated to perform the eulogy.
For the public, a viewing of the Oscar-nominated thespian’s casket will be held at the Hall of Liberty in Forest Lawn in Los Angeles.
But putting Duncan to rest won’t be without a scandal. It’s been reported that a woman, claiming to be the actor’s daughter, is attempting to extort his estate for financial gain, telling his family she wants “what’s mine.”
Marqay Ambrose, 32, was recently interviewed by My Fox Chicago. Claiming that Duncan is her father and that the two hadn’t spoken in 11 years.
"The only thing that really bothers me about him passing,” she said, “is that we didn't fix it. That's the only thing that I hate.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Duncan say that while he did date Ambrose’s mother, he did not believe Ambrose was his child.
“He was in the hospital for 53 days, and she never once reached out or tried to talk to him then,” the source said. “It was the day he died that she started calling his mother saying ‘I want what’s mine’ and trying to get money from her."
Ambrose has denied trying to extort money from the family.
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(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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