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UPDATE: Comedian Bernie Mac Dies at 50
Saturday August 9, 2008

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Bernie Mac died early Saturday morning. He was 50.

"Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago-area hospital," his rep told Usmagazine.com in a statement. "No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family's privacy continues to be respected."

See more photos of stars gone too soon.

Mac was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia on August 1, but his rep said then he was expected to make a full recovery after a few weeks of treatment.



The actor - who appeared alongside Brad Pitt in Ocean's 13 - also battled sarcoidosis, a lung disease, for two decades. In 2005, he announced that it'd gone in to remission.

Mac also starred in the Fox series, The Bernie Mac Show. The critically-acclaimed show aired from 2001 to 2006, and earned him a Peabody award, and an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination.

He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for his 2001 comedy album, "The Original Kings of Comedy," with Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric The Entertainer.

Mac took to the stage early.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports his first performance was at a church dinner at age 8. He started doing stand-up routines in Chicago comedy clubs at 20.

His first movie role was in the 1992 Damon Wayans flick Mo' Money.

But Mac was thinking about retiring.

"I'm going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit," he told David Letterman in 2007. "I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977."

Mac's upcoming movies include Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (co-starring Ben Stiller), Soul Men with Samuel L. Jackson and Old Dogs with Robin Williams.

He is survived by his wife Rhonda McCullough, whom he married in 1977, their daughter, Je'Niece, and granddaughter, Jasmine.

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PagePosted by Lindsay Powers at 10:06 am ET     Permanent Link | 273 Comments
Categories: Bernie Mac


11:45 AM Anonymous Says:

If someone knows the family please give them this message somehow, someway! You will think its crazy but I have to get this message to them. On November 1, 2008 Bernie Mac came to me (I have physic abilities) and he is struggling with something. He tried to communicate to me this struggle but I told him "There is NO way I can reach his family to get the message to them. However I told him to try and contact someone with physic abilities that is familiar with the family". I cannot rest until I posted this somewhere in hopes that his family PLEASE contact a "true and reliable physic" that they know and trust. Bernie has a message he is trying to get through to the family. Since I am not known this is all I can do. Thanks to anyone out there, that see's this, and gets this message to the family. I can do no more than that but feel it is my duty to convey this. Again thanks!

4:02 PM Anonymous Says:

I send coledences to the Mac family! God knows best and he will not put no more on you than you can bear. Be encouraged and look unto the hills which comes our help. GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN---

7:15 PM Anonymous Says:

This news came as a real shock to all of us here. We really loved Bernie Mac. He was my favorite comedian these days. I even named my dog after him. He will be missed here but forever remembered. His family are in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless them all and may he help their healing process.

9:54 AM mrs b Says:

It is truly sad when you lose a family member so soon and unexpected. its even sadder when people who have no clue about the lose make assumptions .. how ever the loss it is still a loss and to the ignorant comments about Mr. Mack's Death.. you will answer to them all and the good thing is that Bernie Mac is still going to be on top... RIP..Bernie... and if i ever find out the people behind the negative remarks.. "Imma buss they head to the white meat"..... keep smiling family...

7:59 AM bees Says:

My girls and I stay up at night to watch Bernie Mac show and we feel like we
know him.We will miss you and our prayers go out to his family and friends.
God Bless you.

8:18 PM Anonymous Says:

Bernie was so funny may god bless his family, he will be missed.

1:21 PM corhny from arziona Says:

mr mac will be truly missed.he one of the good that die to soon..so to his family all prayes and keep your head up this will pass. he will always be in your heart......

1:49 PM MRS. SMILEY Says:

THIS TOO SHALL PASS. MR. MAC WAS LIKE FAMILY EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER MET. HE BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY TO MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. TO THE FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH THE WORLD. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND MAY YOU DRAW STRENGTH FOR EACH OTHER AND FROM EACH OTHER.

4:57 AM Anonymous Says:

is there ANY possibility he was murdered?

11:20 PM Janice S. Says:

Bernie Mac will be greatly missed he was one of the best things that happened to the comedy world. i loved him and i give great sympathy for his wife, daughter and grandaughter. we love you bernie, and we will indeed miss you!

3:25 PM bahama blue Says:

grieving in the Bahamas my heart is saddened to know that a good Soldier has passed the world of Comedy is at a great lost,the true King of Comedy has left us.My prayers are with Rhonda and Je'neice and baby girl Je'neice and the rest of the family.R.I.P. BERNIE MAC

1:07 PM countessgray Says:

I can say that Mr. Bernie Mac will be greatly missed he was a very talented person. You know that he had the calling of a comedian if they could make you laugh until you cried that's a bad man. The world has lost a great comedian and the world will never be the same. My thought's are with his family and I hope that they will be able to get through this tough time in their lives. I know that he is in a better place and is feeling much better now

A MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN

Perhap's you aren't ready yet to have to say good-bye, perhap's you have thought of things you wished you'd have said well so have I. For one thing I'd have told you not to wrry about me.I'm with the lord in heaven that's where you knew I'd be.I'm sorry that you are feeling bad, for I am so happy now. I've asked the lord to ease your hurt and comfort you somehow. It's hard at the beginning but I know you'll make it through. I hope it helps to know that I'll be waiting for you

12:11 PM Fan of Bernie Says:

In the summer of 2003, I worked many days and many long nights as an extra in Bernie's film, "Mr. 3000" that was filmed in Milwaukee. You could tell he was a natural comedian-he had us cracking up between takes with his hilarious wit. I now feel so blessed to have been able to be in his presence and converse with him. I stood in line for hours to get casted in that gig and it was well worth it! God Bless you Bernie Mac. Heaven is going to be a much funnier place now. His spirit is back home now, but it's still not hard to want to say, "damn, 50 is way too young to die!" Condolences goes out to his family and friends.

11:58 AM Fabiana Martin Says:

My name is Fabiana i went to school with Bernie and Rhonda . Bernice was so funny in school (CVS) and Im glad he made it . He always said that he would make it big and he did just that. To Rhonda and family he will be greatly missed and May God Bless and keep each and everyone of you.Rest in Peace B-man .

11:30 AM kosovoa Says:

this makes me so sad that we cant laught with his jokes any more may he ben in heaven

11:18 AM Tysa Says:

Oh my gosh. This is such a tragic loss. I laughed so hard in Kings of Comedy with his "milk and cookie" scene. He was my favorite out of the four and I am just so shocked. May God be with his family and friends.

11:16 AM Anonymous Says:

This is just so sad! :( Bernie Mac was a very very funny man and he will be missed!!!

10:18 AM Classicfilmgirl Says:

This guy was so funny, I loved his TV Show and his part in the Ocean's movies, to lose him at such a young age is sad for the world, but mostly so tragic for his wife and kids and the rest of his family, by the way, I am a Christian and I am not a scumbag, and neither are you, (the one that said that), mercifully, Christ died for us all, each and everyone, even the Christians that are scumbags, but there are scumbags everyway

10:10 AM Anonymous Says:

My heart and prayers go out to his family.
Bernie was a great Comedian and Actor.
Heaven will be much funnier now with Bernie.
He will be truly missed !!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~

1:44 AM Ashantia Says:

I am so sad. Mr. Mac was a very funny man that inspired a lot of people. I dont care what other people may say about him, they should just hope as many people care about them when they pass as there are for mr. mac. I will pray for the family. I'm a christian and those negative comments could not have come from a true christian. Rest in Peace Mr. Mac.

12:10 AM Anonymous Says:

Michelle from Madison, ??? are you OK?

11:35 PM me Says:

We will suerly miss a very funny and talented guy. Bernie Mac, the greatest. Miss you.

11:34 PM Michelle from Madison Says:

My goodness, he was as old as Nancy Grace. Hopefully they find out his death was not due to drug use and the use of alcohol like Nancy does. Has any criminal charges been assessed in this case yet?

11:21 PM tamara Says:

Rest in Peace Bernie Mac. All the people and I at the Supercenter will miss you. To the surviving family, you have my prayers.

10:29 PM Rosie H.Weinstein Says:

My heart goes out to Bernie's family he was great in Charlie's Angels he was a great Bosley. I loved his show The Bernie Mac show he was a joy on the big and little screen name may you rest in peace brother Man. I also just heard Chef Hayes passed away too my heart goes out to his family rest in peace Chef.

9:24 PM Anonymous Says:

REST IN PEACE MR. BERNIE MAC YOU WAS THE GREATEST...MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOUR FAMILY.

8:59 PM tony070861 Says:

We got a text message last week that said Bernie Mac had died. I checked the news all week and heard he was in the hospital. Then yesterday I saw the news that said he died. I loved 'Jangle leg' on Life, remember "I'm de Pappy"... and the Kings of comedy.. he was sooo funny. When I was little, I would ask my great-aunt for gram-crackers and peanut butter at night... Bernie Macs 'milk and cookies' joke reminds me of my childhood. He will be missed by many.

4:31 PM kasside Says:

im so sad about this i know how his family feels i lost my uncle and he was fifty and i didnt even get to see him alot my mom was sad to im so sad about bernie mac he was so funny in guess who i loved him in that and in open season bernie mac is watchin over every comidein in the world and his family. the world isnt the same without you. :( :( :(

4:00 PM Anonymous Says:

I was very shocked to hear about the passing of such and young and talented man. My father passed an early age and I feel so heart-broken for his wife, daughter and granddaughter. His memory will live on in all of them.

3:25 PM Ladybyrd Says:

I will miss "The Mac Man". Bernie was one of the funniest comedians I have ever seen. When he appeared I will have a smile on my face in anticipation of the words that will flow out of his mouth. He never disappointed, not once. And The Bernie Mac Show, like the Cosby show always had a message. Bernie would look in the camera and say, "America, I know what you thinking"... I will definitely miss one of Chi-towns finest! Good Bye Uncle Bernie

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