Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50

CHICAGO - Bernie Mac, the actor and comedian who teamed up in the casino heist caper "Ocean's Eleven" and gained a prestigious Peabody Award for his sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show," died Saturday at age 50.

"Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.

She said no other details were available and asked that his family's privacy be respected.

The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.

Recently, Mac's brand of comedy caught him flack when he was heckled during a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama.

Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine, Mac joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language. The performance earned him a rebuke from Obama's campaign.

But despite controversy or difficulties, in his words, Mac was always a performer.

"Wherever I am, I have to play," he said in 2002. "I have to put on a good show."

Mac worked his way to Hollywood success from an impoverished upbringing on Chicago's South Side. He began doing standup as a child, and his film career started with a small role as a club doorman in the Damon Wayans comedy "Mo' Money" in 1992. In 1996, he appeared in the Spike Lee drama "Get on the Bus."

He was one of "The Original Kings of Comedy" in the 2000 documentary of that title that brought a new generation of black standup comedy stars to a wider audience.

Mac went on to star in the hugely popular "Ocean's Eleven" franchise with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

His turn with Ashton Kutcher in 2005's "Guess Who" topped the box office. It was a comedy remake of the classic Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn drama "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" — with Mac as the black dad who's shocked that his daughter is marrying a white man.

Mac also had starring roles in "Bad Santa," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Transformers."

In the late 1990s, he had a recurring role in "Moesha," the UPN network comedy starring pop star Brandy.

The comedian drew critical and popular acclaim with his Fox television series "The Bernie Mac Show," which aired more than 100 episodes from 2001 to 2006.

The series about a man's adventures raising his sister's three children, won a Peabody Award in 2002. At the time, judges wrote they chose the sitcom for transcending "race and class while lifting viewers with laughter, compassion — and cool."

The show garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Mac.

"But television handcuffs you, man," he said in a 2001 Associated Press interview. "Now everyone telling me what I CAN'T do, what I CAN say, what I SHOULD do, and asking, `Are blacks going to be mad at you? Are whites going to accept you?'"

He also was nominated for a Grammy award for best comedy album in 2001 along with his "The Original Kings of Comedy" co-stars, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric The Entertainer.

In 2007, Mac told David Letterman on CBS' "Late Show" that he planned to retire soon.

"I'm going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit," Mac told Letterman. "I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977."

Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago. He grew up on the city's South Side, living with his mother and grandparents. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist church.

In his 2004 memoir, "Maybe You Never Cry Again," Mac wrote about having a poor childhood — eating bologna for dinner — and a strict, no-nonsense upbringing.

"I came from a place where there wasn't a lot of joy," Mac told the AP in 2001. "I decided to try to make other people laugh when there wasn't a lot of things to laugh about."

Mac's mother died of cancer when he was 16. In his book, Mac said she was a support for him and told him he would surprise everyone when he grew up.

"Woman believed in me," he wrote. "She believed in me long before I believed."

RIP Bernie Mac! You will be Missed. 

I was just going to make a thread for him.

So so sad.

I love his act and great sense of humor.

You will be missed Bernie.

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You beat me to it!! its shocking so so shocking

This is a tragic loss
His death brought tears to my eyes
He's one of my all-time favorite comedians
Why? why? why?


He'd be greatly missed!

Mehn , . . . . . , . .why na?

Oh my Godddddddddd!!!!!

     This brings tears to my eyes. Just yesterday I heard he would be in the hosp for weeks cos it was serious and this morn woke up to hear he's dead. This is too sad, death can take anyone at any time . . .  Bernie you will be missed      

Damn. . . . bad news. . . . God rest his doggone soul.

This is so sad!!!!

May his soul rest in peace.

Sisi, how are you doing?  

Rest in peace Bernie,we gonna miss you.

Negro_Ntns:

May his soul rest in peace.

Amen

OMG!

Now I fear pneumonia the more

May his gentle soul rest in peace, AMEN

he was a great man.
may he rip

Meeenn this is so sad. .

I loved his acting like crazi

may his soul rest in peace. his comedy will live forever

'

here's ur confirmation

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080809/ap_on_en_mo/obit_bernie_mac

This is so shocking. May his soul rest in peace.
This is a lesson 4 all of us; Let us live our lives 2 bless humanity. WE WILL NOT BE HERE 4REVER.

The rate at which people dey die these days is getting scary reminds me of that Wyclef song

We are the next generation we aint scared to die
The only thing i fear is the after-life,Cuz i don't know whats there
On the other side

Gees Mates!!! So freakin' terrible!!! 50? Gees!!!

r.i.p

rip

Rest In Peace Bernie, I was shocked to see this, hopefully, we would still see u cracking jokes on the other side

O ma se o.

Fine comedian has gone!RIP.

Good bye Bernie.

You are so much missed already.

I was so sad when I saw it this morning.
He was one of my favorite Kings of Comedy.
I will miss his jokes.

Lord may he rest in your perfect peace.
Amen.

Na wa o .I live in Texas and did not even hear about this been, busy though.May his soul R.I.P

It's not fair!!!!

awww mehn why he gotta leave like that!?? Just 50!!




R.I.P!!

Bernie Mac had one of the most unique comedy styles i have ever seen. It was so refreshing and funny. Bernie Mac, much respect, rest in peace bro.