The unexpected death of comedian and actor Bernie Mac Saturday
morning at only 50 has left fans, friends and colleagues in shock and grief.
Bernie Mac was hospitalized a week ago in a Chicago
hospital for pneumonia and it was soon being reported that his condition was
very serious and that it was a life or death situation.
His rep responded to these concerning reports by saying he
was “still alive” and undergoing treatment for pneumonia at a Chicago
hospital. Danica Smith, representative fro the comedian-actor, told People.com
at the time that Bernie Mac was “expected to make a full recovery.”
Reports quieted down after this as the media waited for more
news regarding Bernie Mac’s condition and the evolution of his recovery.
The actor had revealed a few years ago that he suffered from
sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease he had been diagnosed with some two decades
ago. His rep told the magazine his current hospitalization was not connected to
his sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation in the lungs,
lymph nodes and other organs.
Mac had been in remission from sarcoidosis since 2005.
His rep asked for privacy for the ill actor and his family
once more and that was that. Until Saturday morning, when it was announced that
the 50-year-old father and grandfather had passed away.
“[He] passed away this morning from complications due to
pneumonia in a Chicago area
hospital,” Danica Smith told People.com, asking once more for the family’s
privacy and saying no other details would be available for the time being.
Bernie Mac had been at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital
since Aug.1. An unnamed source had told the Chicago Sun-Times that the actor
was in “very, very critical” condition but his rep consistently downplayed
rumors.
Bernie Mac, real name Bernard McCullough, had been married
to Rhonda McCullough since 1977. The couple’s daughter, Je’Niece, born in 1978,
has been married since 2003 and has a daughter, Jasmine.
Bernie Mac appeared in “Ocean’s Eleven,” alongside Brad Pitt
and George Clooney, and the subsequent “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen” sequels.
His former co-stars remembered him fondly and spoke
graciously of the greatly talented actor. “The world just got a little less
funny. He will be missed dearly,” George Clooney said.
Brad Pitt lauded Bernie Mac as “a ferociously funny and
hardcore family man,” sending his thoughts to Rhonda and the family.
Samuel L. Jackson, who stars opposite Mac in this fall’s
“Soul Men,” said the actor was evidently “one of the preeminent comedians of
our generation.”
Don Cheadle, who likewise starred in the “Ocean’s” trilogy,
said Bernie Mac had “brought so much joy to so many.” Added Cheadle, “He will
be missed but heaven just got funnier.”
Mac’s career spanned a good three decades, beginning as a
stand-up comedian in Chicago’s comedy
clubs in 1977. His film career began with a small part in the Damon Wayans film
“Mo Money in 1992”
and he went on to star in several delicious comedies, including 2005’s “Guess
Who,” a remake of Sidney Poitier’s 1967 film “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner.”
The remake costarred Aston Kutcher and Zoe Saldana.
Bernie Mac also played Bosley in “Charlie’s Angels: Full
Throttle” and appeared in “Bad Santa,” with Billy Bob Thornton and Michael
Bay’s “Transformers.”
The comedian also starred in his own Fox sitcom titled “The
Bernie Mac Show” from 2001 to 2006 earned two Emmy Award nominations.
