Bernie Mac dies at 50

Bernie Mac, who for the past 30 years made the public laugh with an over-sized comic persona in film, television and comedy clubs, has died of pneumonia. He was 50. "[He] passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital On Aug 1, Mac was admitted to a hospital at Northwestern Memorial hospital with pneumonia adding that he was expected to recover, despite widespread rumors about the seriousness of his condition. Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough in Chicago, Mac began his career as a stand-up comedian in the small comedy clubs of his native town. As a founding member of the Kings of Comedy comedy tour – the success of which spawned Spike Lee's 2000 concert movie The Original Kings of Comedy (also starring Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer) – Mac was able to spotlight what would become his rapid-fire delivery. He will be missed dearly." A man of many media, Mac published a 2001 collection of comic riffs, In February 2005, Mac, then 47, revealed that for the previous two decades he had suffered from sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in organs such as the lungs or lymph nodes. "It has not altered or limited my lifestyle," he said at the time. Since 1977, Mac was married to Rhonda McCullough, with whom he had a daughter, Je'Niece, born in 1978. A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana (with a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters in mental health counseling), Je'Niece married in 2003 and also has a daughter, Jasmine. His family survives Mac. Being married to Rhonda McCullough for 30 years is important being in Hollywood spotlight. Rhonda will surely miss him. And also millions of fans will miss the laughter and fun of Mr. Mac.