Bernie Mac was an American comedian and actor born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on October 5, 1957, in Chicago. He starred in The Original Kings of Comedy and The Bernie Mac Show, and he died on August 9, 2008, at age 50.
Who Was Bernie Mac?
Bernie Mac was an American stand-up comedian and actor from the South Side of Chicago. He is recognized for edgy, autobiographical humor that led to the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show (2001 to 2006). Examples of his work include The Original Kings of Comedy, Ocean’s Eleven, Mr. 3000, and Guess Who.
What Are the Basic Facts About Bernie Mac?
The table below lists key biographical facts. Each row names an attribute and each value is stated in the right column.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bernard Jeffrey McCullough |
| Date of birth | October 5, 1957 |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Date of death | August 9, 2008 |
| Age at death | 50 |
| Years active | 1977 to 2008 |
| Occupations | Comedian, actor |
| Best-known television work | The Bernie Mac Show (2001 to 2006, 104 episodes) |
| Best-known tour and film | The Original Kings of Comedy |
Where Was Bernie Mac Born and Raised?
Bernie Mac was born in Chicago and raised on the South Side. He was the second child of Mary McCullough and Jeffrey Harrison. His single mother and grandparents raised him.
His mother died of cancer when he was 16, and his grandmother raised him afterward. He attended the Chicago Vocational Career Academy, where his graduating class voted him class clown.
When Did Bernie Mac Start Performing?
Bernie Mac gave his first stand-up routine at age 8 for his church congregation. He began playing the Chicago comedy club circuit in 1977, at age 20.
How Did Bernie Mac Start His Comedy Career?
Bernie Mac started his career by performing in Chicago clubs and telling jokes for tips on the city’s subway platforms. He worked as a janitor, mover, school bus driver, and General Motors plant employee before comedy became his full-time work.
He later launched a weekly variety show at Chicago’s Regal Theater. His career took off in 1990 when he won the Miller Lite Comedy Search. The win led to an appearance on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam.
The key steps in his television rise are listed below:
- 1990: He won the Miller Lite Comedy Search.
- 1995: He hosted the HBO late-night show Midnight Mac.
- 1995: He appeared as Pastor Clever in the film Friday.
- 1996: He joined the sitcom Moesha.
- 2000: He starred in Spike Lee’s The Original Kings of Comedy.
- 2001: Fox premiered The Bernie Mac Show.
What Was The Original Kings of Comedy?
The Original Kings of Comedy was a stand-up tour and a 2000 documentary film directed by Spike Lee. The tour featured Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D.L. Hughley. Mac closed the show each night and had some of the edgiest, most profane material of the 4 comedians. The film succeeded at the box office and raised his profile.
What Was The Bernie Mac Show?
The Bernie Mac Show was a Fox sitcom that ran from 2001 to 2006 for 104 episodes. It portrayed a fictional version of Mac who raises his sister’s 3 children. The show contained many parodies of events from Mac’s real life.
The series won a Peabody Award, an Emmy for Outstanding Writing, and a Humanitas Prize. It earned Mac 2 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Golden Globe nominations, and 4 NAACP Image Awards.
What Films Did Bernie Mac Make?
Bernie Mac appeared in more than 30 film and television roles. The table below lists major films by year and role.
| Film | Year | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | 1995 | Played Pastor Clever |
| Booty Call | 1997 | Played Judge Peabody |
| Ocean’s Eleven | 2001 | Played Frank Catton, one of 11 casino robbers |
| Head of State | 2003 | Starring role |
| Bad Santa | 2003 | Starring role |
| Ocean’s Twelve | 2004 | Reprised Frank Catton |
| Mr. 3000 | 2004 | First leading role, as Stan Ross |
| Guess Who | 2005 | Topped the box office; remake of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner |
| Ocean’s Thirteen | 2007 | Reprised Frank Catton |
| Soul Men | 2008 | Played Floyd Henderson opposite Samuel L. Jackson |
Soul Men and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa were his first posthumous films. Both were released 3 months after his death and dedicated to him.
What Awards Did Bernie Mac Win?
Bernie Mac and his work received 6 major honors:
- Peabody Award for The Bernie Mac Show
- Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for The Bernie Mac Show
- Humanitas Prize for The Bernie Mac Show
- NAACP Image Awards (4) for The Bernie Mac Show
- Black Reel Award for Best Actor, Musical or Comedy, for Mr. 3000 (2005)
- BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2005)
What Health Condition Did Bernie Mac Have?
Bernie Mac had sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the solid organs. He said in 2005 that the condition was in remission. He established the Bernie Mac Foundation in 2007 to raise awareness about the disease.
How and When Did Bernie Mac Die?
Bernie Mac died on August 9, 2008, in Chicago at age 50. The cause was complications from pneumonia, and he died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after weeks of unsuccessful treatment.
Sources differ on the link to sarcoidosis. Britannica states the pneumonia developed from a weakened immune system caused by medication for sarcoidosis. Another biography states it was believed to be unrelated.
Who Was Bernie Mac’s Family?
Bernie Mac was married to Rhonda Gore and had 1 daughter, Je’Niece McCullough. He met Rhonda while attending high school in Chicago.
What Is Bernie Mac’s Legacy?
Bernie Mac remained loyal to Chicago and continued to live in the area after becoming a national celebrity. In 2016, Chicago’s mayor proclaimed November 14 as Bernie Mac Day.
In 2007, he told David Letterman that he planned to retire soon. He wanted to continue producing and making films while enjoying his life.
People Also Ask About Bernie Mac
What was Bernie Mac’s real name?
Bernie Mac’s real name was Bernard Jeffrey McCullough.
How old was Bernie Mac when he died?
Bernie Mac was 50 years old when he died on August 9, 2008.
What did Bernie Mac die from?
Bernie Mac died from complications of pneumonia.
What was Bernie Mac known for?
Bernie Mac was known for The Original Kings of Comedy and The Bernie Mac Show.
Who were the Original Kings of Comedy?
The Original Kings of Comedy were Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D.L. Hughley.
How many episodes of The Bernie Mac Show were there?
The Bernie Mac Show had 104 episodes across 5 seasons from 2001 to 2006.
What Is Bernie Mac Known For?
Bernie Mac is known for stand-up comedy that began in Chicago in 1977, The Original Kings of Comedy, and The Bernie Mac Show. He also appeared in Ocean’s Eleven, Mr. 3000, Guess Who, and Soul Men.