1998 chevrolet cavalier 2.4l

recently had loss of power and  poofs of blackish smoke and  shuddering,
clunkin sounds and then engine dies restarted its worse went a few feet dies
again more smoke  I started by  driving out the garage fine but started acting
up at the light to leave driveway I was able to go maybe 200 feet out side the
driveway of work place after staring engine and then it would not restart and
had to tow. I think I may be a catalytic converter but not sure at first I thought
all the horrible sounds were my engine dieing but I have to admit I never
once changed the spark plugs in this car! and after reading about the ways a
catalytic converter can go bad it could be the fact it needed a tuneup how
can I tell?
The Car has the 2.4 L engine