Comedian Bernie Mac dies

08/09/2008 5:27 am 9 comments

This news is so, so sad. Rumors were flying all last week that comedian Bernie Mac had died. But the Chicago Sun-Times’ Stella Foster reports that the top comedian passed away early this morning. Here is their story: Actor, comedian Bernie Mac, dies at 50 August 9, 2008 Comedian Bernie Mac died at Northwestern Memorial hospital early Saturday morning, according to Sun-Times Columnist, Stella Foster. He was 50. Though the cause of death has not been confirmed, Mac had been hospitalized recently for pneumonia. Foster said that she received calls early Saturday morning from a close friend of the Mac family, confirming the reports of Mac’s death. The columnist also said she was deeply saddened to receive such a phone call just an hour after Mac was pronounced dead. “It brought tears to my eyes because Bernie Mac has always been my all-time favorite entertainer and comedian. It pains me to have to report that,” Foster said during a phone interview on Saturday morning. On Friday, a spokeswoman for the actor, whose real name is, Bernard McCullough, said that he had been responding well to treatment for the illness. Publicist Danica Smith said Thursday in a statement that Mac’s condition is ”stable.” Smith first announced on August 1st that Mac was hospitalized in Chicago. Smith has said the pneumonia isn’t related to an inflammatory lung disease Mac also has. That condition has been in remission since 2005. Foster noted that last weekend, several web sites reported wrongly that the comedian died. Mac made waves last month with off-color jokes during a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The comedian starred in the critically acclaimed Fox television series ”The Bernie Mac Show.” His film credits include roles in the ”Ocean’s Eleven” franchise. Foster says she was remembers Bernie’s comedic beginnings through his show, “Midnight Mac,” which aired for four shows on HBO and was taped in Chicago in 1995. “It was a variety entertainment show,” she said, “He even had dancers called Macaroni’s. That was my first exposure to how talented Bernie Mac was. And after that show, that’s when Hollywood started beating down his door.” The actor’s upcoming movies include “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” starring Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer; and “Soul Men” with Samuel L. Jackson and Isaac Hayes. There is no word on whether public services will be held.

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  • eric alabi

    This is the worst news ive heard and it bothers me because he wasnt only great at what he did but he was one of the most greatest comedians of our time. He was whatm most of us to consider a very talented man for crying out loud he didnt even look his age he will be missed

  • jackie

    i almost fell off my set and have tears in my heart at this moment. what a great comedian and actor he is, and i say ” is” because his style will live on forever. May
    GOD give peace and comfort to all of his family and friends.

  • Barbara Jackson

    It is with sadness that I received the news of Bernie Mac passing because I loved him so much. It is with spiritual strength that I extend my prayful thoughts to his family. He has brought me much laughter over the years with his not scared of you attitude. I looked beyond the roles he played to see the man he was and his journey to get there. He wasn’t privy as a child, but was taught the right way to go. He grabbed hold of life and made his way. He loved people, but he carefully picked his freinds. It was clear he loved hard. He loved his family and knew they loved him. It was apparent he had acheived a lot and was banking, but he was careful never to boast about houses, cars or material things. Bernie Mac was real and that’s the man that the world fell in love with and will away’s remember. “THe King of Comedy and the Prince of Fearlessness.” Rest In Peace Bernie and Well Done.

    Your Fan from Montgomery, Alabama

  • Lisa

    Big Mac,

    Thanks for making my family and I laugh throughout the years. Your smile was much needed in these challenging times. Rest In Peace….How ironic….Isaac Hayes passed today as well.

  • Lisa

    W Johnson, George Carlin was funny too, and I paid my respects to him as well. If you really watched Carlin, you wouldn’t have posted those messages. W Johnson, we will pray for you. Stop living up to your name.

  • dorinda mason

    Bernie Mac I will miss you! I remember you from C.V.S. (chicago vocational school) you were tall dark and handsome and you were flanked by your posse? Too mush for me at the time. Now that you are in heavan im satisfied to see you later LOVE from DLMA

  • Yolande Barnes

    Roland, I watched the McCain-Barack forum on Saturday, and I was surprised no one caught it–unless Barack and McCain both had the questions prior to the converstation–how did McCain when responding to one question and I can’t remember the question now, but he asked if he would get an opportunity to name the Supereme Court Justices he wouldn’t have chosen–because the reponse he was giving would be a better response for that question. Now, it was stated when he enetered the stage he was sitting in a sound proof room. NOW! How did he know there was a question to be asked about the Justices–if he did not have the questions before hand.

  • Douglas

    Bernie, Issac thanks for the laughs (jokes) and the fantastic music which will never die.

    But Mr. Martin, I want to talk about the topic of Senator Obama which you spoke about on your radio show on WVON on August 18, 2008. You are CORRECT in stating Senator Obama is long-winded in his answers. The ONLY WAY to make him understand is KEEP EXPLAINING that he is NOT in front of a classroom of students.

    Less be real and get to the core of the issue. Lecturers are long-winded because of dispensing information standing in front of a classroom of individuals who seek knowledge at a higher level. Senator Obama know how to speak to those with a high school diploma or less, but I sense when he is on stage with cameras he feels the need to TEACH as when simply give an answer and move on. That simply means give two sentence answers and move on. Say it in one if possible but he wants to EDUCATE the AMERICAN VOTER, which is a good thing, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF LOSING THE ELECTION!!

    Contact Ms. Michele Obama and explain to her that she needs to get through to him on this or he will continue to look weak as he did at the forum with Rick Warren.

    That old saying is true. Sometimes you can be so smart that you can mess everything up by talking too long, and other people are going like what are you talking about. YOU HAVE SAID MANY TIMES! Senator Obama NEEDS to get in and get out when being questioned.

    Later

  • http://www.tjwsfoundation.com Angelina

    JOHN MCCAIN HAS SOME DIRT OUT THERE USE IT .THESE PEOPLE USING ALL DIRTY TRICK TO GET ELECTED AND OUR SIDE ARE SO NICE ,EXPOSE JOHN AND PALIN IN THE COMMERCIALS
    THESE REPUBLICANS WILL LIE THEIR WAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE-AND THESE RACIST OLD PEOPLE
    HATE TO SEE A MAN OF COLOR INTHAT HOUSE, THEY SEE HOW SMART HE IS ,, THE MENTALITY OF
    WHAT THEY DONE TO SLAVES-WONT LET THEM CHANGE.BUT GOD IS IN THIS PLAN AND HE WILL PUT A MAN IN THERE TO BRING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THAT IS BARACK,BUT HE HAS TO GET A LITTLE TOUGHER AND LET THEM KNOW HE IS NO JOKE TO PLAY WITH…

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