The Washington Informer: Entertainment

That traveling troupe led to him to Hollywood , where the 6'5" gentle giant considered applying to the LAPD. But moonlighting as a bodyguard, he developed an A-list client roster which included Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and LL Cool J. And after the handsome he-man was discovered by a talent scout, he decided to try his hand at acting.

Though first typecast as a bouncer, bodyguard and other tough guys in movies like Bulworth, The Players Club, Armageddon, Friday and A Night at the Roxbury, Mike landed an Oscar nomination in 2000 for his compelling performance as the unfairly convicted John Coffey in The Green Mile. Since then, his services have remained steadily in demand, and he's been hired to play a diversity of roles in such big-budget productions as The Whole Nine Yards, Planet of the Apes, The Scorpion King, Daredevil, Racing Stripes and Sin City.

Here, the stentorian-throated thespian discusses his latest picture, The Island (in theaters now), where he reunites with Michael Bay who also directed him in Armageddon.

KW: Michael, thanks for the time.

MD: Hey, man, no problem.

KW: What made you decide to do such a wild science fiction flick?

MD: I have not seen it yet, but what made me do it was trying to do a favor for a friend of mine named Michael Bay .

KW: You did Armageddon with him.

MD: Right. I was just trying to help him out, that's all. He's actually a good person to have in your pocket, so to speak.

KW: How did you first hook up with him for Armageddon?

MD: I went to an audition, and I really tried to impress him. I think I succeeded, so that's how I got that gig.

KW: You were in Sin City recently, which was a pretty wild movie, too.

MD: I think Sin City was wilder, a lot more blood. That movie had its share of action.

KW: How did you go from digging ditches in Chicago to acting in movies in Los Angeles ?

MD: I went out there with a play called Beauty Shop, Part Two. I was working security for a touring theater company. We landed in L.A. a year after leaving Chicago . And I just stayed there.

KW: Were you in the play, too?

MD: No, I was only working security.

KW: Wow!

MD: Yeah, isn't that something?

KW: So, had you tried acting before?

MD: No, I had only hoped to come out to L.A. and make a name for myself, I guess.

KW: I find it amazing that you were just the guard for the acting troupe and yet you were the one who got discovered in Hollywood ?

MD: Yeah, that's kinda funny because you would think it would have been one of them. But it wasn't. I was always in the background, studying them, watching their movements, and hoping somebody would give me some sort of break.

KW: And you went from that to Oscar-nominee.

MD: Yep, there you go.

KW: Did you find that being an Oscar-nominee opened a lot of doors?

MD: Yes, it did. It's nice to have in your corner because it's a very big thing to be nominated. I don't know what else you can say, but that's one of the best things that happened for my career in Hollywood .

KW: You've handled a diversity of roles since “The Green Mile”. Was that by design?

MD: Most of those things came by a director requesting me or asking me to come in and read. You just kinda take it from there and hope for the best.

You never know in Hollywood . It changes from time to time. So, you just go out there and do your best and hope that somebody appreciates it.

KW: “The Island” is a bit of a departure for Michael Bay because it features a very thought-provoking plotline which raises some interesting ethical issues.

MD: Right. If they come away from it with that, so be it. But it's a really good action movie, too. I want them to go and just enjoy a really good summer action movie.

KW: Where in L.A. do you live? If you're willing to reveal the general area.

MD: I live in The Valley.

KW: And what new projects do you have on the horizon?

MD: Right now, I'm looking into doing some television shows, maybe a half-hour comedy, or an hour drama series. It all depends on what my managers are doing right now while I'm here in New York . Hopefully, they're handling business back there in L.A.

KW: Want to share what shows these might be?

MD: I got a few things that might be worthy, but I don't want to talk about them right now. I don't want to give it away or jinx it.

KW: Is acting still fun? Do you get gratification from it?

MD: Any time I'm working, I love it. You're kind of blessed when you have a job like this. Who can say that they get paid very well to portray this character or to portray this character. Just to be working is the gratification. When somebody calls and says they want you to do this movie with so-and-so, that's the gratification right there in a nutshell.

KW: What advice do you have for kids who would like to follow in your footsteps?

MD: I would tell them that it's going to take education, and a lot of patience and perseverance. And don't think that you can't be sitting where I am. It's very easy to do, if you believe in yourself. It always has been.

KW: Hey, thanks again for the interview.

MD: Alright, man. Thank you very, very much. I appreciate your time.