WATCH: Michael Clarke Duncan Talks Vegetarianism with PETA

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Michael Clark Duncan is a big, strong man. Most probably assume he’s an avid meat eater who gets strength from steaks and hamburgers, and if you’re one of those assumption makers, then you’re quite wrong.

“The Green Mile” and “The Finder” actor is a hardcore vegetarian, who said goodbye to meat three years ago around the day of his 51st birthday. After noticing he had a lot of illnesses, Duncan decided he was ready for a change.

“I wanted to try something new and exciting and different, so I decided to become a vegetarian,” he says in a new video for PETA.

Duncan stars in the new PETA campaign – I Am Michael Clark Duncan, and I Am a Vegetarian – where he speaks about the strengths of going vegetarian.

“The best thing about being a vegetarian for me, number one is I know I’m not harming any animals,” he says in the video campaign. “The number two thing is increased strength. I’m a lot stronger than I was when I was eating meat.”

He goes on to say, “Most of your most powerful animals in the wild are vegetarian, so I’m trying to get my strength to that level. I don’t know if I’ll make it or not, but elephants are vegetarians. They’re pretty big, so. . .”

What really helped Duncan with the change was watching documentaries and reading. He watched “Meet Your Meat,” a behind-the-scenes documentary about factory farming created by PETA, and read “Skinny Bitch,” a guide that promotes a plant based diet. After educating himself, he cleared out $5,000 worth of meat from his refrigerator. Now, he feels healthier and is protecting animals, especially his own. He has 11 pets that include six cats and two dogs.

Duncan explains he’s still strong and getting protein in the healthiest of ways.

“Don’t think that you have to have these gigantic steaks to get your protein,” Duncan says. “The protein you put in from the beans, legumes, fresh fruits, and vegetables will last way longer, and you’ll get more out of it than you will in that 12 ounces of meat.”

Ever since becoming vegetarian, the actor has lost 35 pounds. Be sure to watch the video below to hear Duncan’s story. Also, Duncan gives a step-by-step plan for going vegetarian on PETA’s website, so check that out as well.