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{{short description|American comedian and actor (1957–2008)}}{{pp-move}}

factoids

Chicago>Chicago, Illinois, U.S.20080910|05}}|death_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Washington Memory GardensHomewood, Illinois>Homewood, Illinois, U.S.}}|education = Chicago Vocational High SchoolRhonda McCullough|1977}}|children = 1|medium = Film, stand-up comedy, television|active = 1977–2008|genre = Observational comedy Bernie McCullough – The Bernie Mac ShowSoul Men>Gin Slagel – Bad Santa|Frank Catton – Ocean’s Trilogy}}|image_size=}}Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008),WEB,www.biography.com/people/bernie-mac-9542611, Bernie Mac, Biography.com, 27 April 2021, better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, was an American comedian and actor. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined fellow comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L. Hughley in the film The Original Kings of Comedy.After briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in several films in smaller roles. His most noted film roles were as Frank Catton in the Ocean{{’}}s film series from 2001 through 2007 and as the title character of Mr. 3000. He was the star of his eponymous show, which ran from 2001 through 2006, earning him two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.Mac’s other films included starring roles in The Players Club, Head of State, Bad Santa, Guess Who, Pride, and Soul Men.

Early life and education

Bernard Jeffrey McCullough was born on October 5, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois.WEB,www.legacy.com/ns/bernie-mac-obituary/115220922, Bernie Mac Obituary on Legacy.com, Legacy.com, 10 August 2008, Mac was the second child of Mary McCullough and Jeffrey Harrison.WEB,www.berniemacfoundation.org/in-memory/, Bernie Mac Foundation, www.berniemacfoundation.org, 2017-12-13, 2018-01-23,www.berniemacfoundation.org/in-memory/," title="web.archive.org/web/20180123005123www.berniemacfoundation.org/in-memory/,">web.archive.org/web/20180123005123www.berniemacfoundation.org/in-memory/, dead, Mac was raised by his single mother and his grandparents on the city’s south side.WEB,www.imdb.com/name/nm0005170/bio, Bernie Mac, IMDb, 2 October 2016, Mac began his high school career at Chicago Vocational High School. During 1973, Mac moved to Tampa, Florida, to attend Jesuit High School following the death of his mother during his sophomore year.Savoy Magazine May 2002 Shortly afterward, Mac’s older brother and his estranged father both died. Mac later returned to Chicago and graduated from Chicago Vocational in 1975.WEB,www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/89946?page=79, 1975 Chicago Vocational High School Year Book (Chicago, Illinois), 1975, Classmates.com, December 12, 2017, During his 20s and through his early 30s, Mac worked in a variety of jobs, including janitor, coach, professional mover, cook, bus driver, Wonder Bread delivery man, furniture mover, and UPS agent, while doing comedy on the weekends at clubs and parties.

Career

Mac’s influences were from The Three Stooges and listening to stand-up comedians Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. Mac started as a stand-up comedian in Chicago’s Cotton Club. After he won the Miller Lite Comedy Search at the age of 32, his popularity as a comedian began to grow. In 1992, a performance on the 3rd episode of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam thrust him into the spotlight; after Martin Lawrence was unable to calm an increasingly hostile crowd, Mac went onstage and told the audience “I ain’t scared o’ you mothafuckas” and that he “didn’t come here for no foolishness.“WEB, 2018-11-08, Bernie Mac {{!, Hip Hop History {{!}} Official Russell Simmons Website |url=https://russellsimmons.com/2018/11/08/bernie-mac/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Russell Simmons |language=en-US}}

The Bernie Mac Show

File:BernieMacTransformersPremiereJune07.jpg|thumb|Bernie Mac at the Transformers premiere in June 2007]]In 2001, the Fox network gave Mac his own television sitcom called The Bernie Mac Show portraying a fictional version of himself. In the show, he suddenly becomes custodian of his sister’s three children after she enters rehab. Mac broke the fourth wall to tell his thoughts to the audience.The show contained many parodies of events in Bernie’s actual life. Mac, who grew up on Chicago’s South Side, was a fan of the Chicago White Sox, and would often sneak a reference to his favorite team in episodes, including enlisting then-White Sox pitcher Jon Garland to make a guest cameo appearance. In the 2005 season he wore a White Sox jacket and cap, and congratulated his hometown Chicago White Sox and their staff members on their recent World Series championship.The show was not renewed after the 2005–2006 season. The series finale aired on April 14, 2006. Among other awards, the show won an EmmyWEB,www.emmys.com/celebrities/bernie-mac, Bernie Mac, Television Academy, for “Outstanding Writing”, the Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting, and the Humanitas Prize for television writing that promotes human dignity.Bernie Mac obituary {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813224056www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/mac/2871519 |date=August 13, 2008 }} His character on The Bernie Mac Show was ranked No. 47 in TV Guide{{’s}} list of the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time”.June 20, 2004 issueDuring his run on the show, Mac had co-starring roles in the Ocean’s trilogy (2001–2007), Head of State (2003) and Bad Santa (2003), as well as starring roles in the baseball-themed film Mr. 3000 (2004) and Guess Who? (2005), a remake of the 1967 film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

Later years

On March 19, 2007, Mac told David Letterman on the CBS Late Show that he would retire from his 30-year career after he finished shooting the comedy film, The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Mac. “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 and was on the road 47 weeks out of the year.“WEB, Bernie Mac plans to retire his standup comedy act,www.gainesville.com/article/20070329/News/604157029, 2021-04-14, Gainesville Sun, Associated Press, During this time, Mac was having success as a popular film actor, starting with an appearance in the 2007 film Transformers as the car salesman “Bobby Bolivia”, and serving as the voice of Zuba, Alex the Lion’s long-lost father in (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa). He co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the 2008 musical comedy Soul Men. These last two movies were released months after his death. His final film role was as Jimmy Lunchbox in the 2009 film Old Dogs which was released a year after his death.

Personal life

Mac married his high school sweetheart Rhonda Gore on September 17, 1977, and together they had a daughter in 1978.WEB, Mac, Bernie 1957,www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/mac-bernie-1957, Encyclopedia.com, WEB, Bernie Mac News & Biography - Empire,www.empireonline.com/people/bernie-mac/, Empire Online,

Health and death

In the final 20 years of his life, Mac publicly disclosed that he had severe sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown origin that causes inflammation in tissue.WEB, Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 52,cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html, Suzanne Le Mignot, Le Mignot, Suzanne, August 9, 2010, CBS2Chicago, 2012-03-27, dead,cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20091021070158cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html,">web.archive.org/web/20091021070158cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html, October 21, 2009, On July 19, 2008, Mac was admitted to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in his hometown of Chicago.MAGAZINE, Bierly, Mandi, 2008-08-09, Bernie Mac dies at 50,ew.com/article/2008/08/09/bernie-mac-dies-50/, live, 2021-10-05, Entertainment Weekly, en,www.ew.com:80/article/2008/08/09/bernie-mac-dies-50," title="web.archive.org/web/20150428005236www.ew.com:80/article/2008/08/09/bernie-mac-dies-50,">web.archive.org/web/20150428005236www.ew.com:80/article/2008/08/09/bernie-mac-dies-50, 2015-04-28, After being treated in the ICU for three weeks, Mac went into cardiac arrest and subsequently died during the early morning hours on August 9, at the age of 50. However, the complications were not attributed to his sarcoidosis, according to his publicist.WEB, 2009-10-21, Actor And Comedian Bernie Mac Dies At Age 50 - cbs2chicago.com,cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html, 2023-03-26,cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20091021070158cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html,">web.archive.org/web/20091021070158cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html, 2009-10-21,

Legacy and tributes

Mac’s public memorial was held a week after his death at the House of Hope Church, with nearly 7,000 people in attendance.WEB, Bernie Mac’s Funeral: “The Hottest Ticket in Town”,www.whudat.com/newsblurbs/more/bernie-macs-funeral-the-hottest-ticket-in-town-1680817081, August 17, 2010, WhuDat, 2013-02-21, Notable mourners at Mac’s funeral were Chris Rock, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Samuel L. Jackson, Ashton Kutcher, Don Cheadle, the cast members from The Bernie Mac Show, and his Kings of Comedy fellows D. L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Steve Harvey.The first two of Mac’s posthumous films, Soul Men and (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa), were released three months after his death and were dedicated to him. Mac’s third posthumously released and final film, Old Dogs, was released a year after his death. The 2008 Bud Billiken Parade, which was held in Chicago on the day of Mac’s death, was also dedicated to his memory. On the day of Mac’s funeral, his hometown’s local television station WCIU-TV aired an exclusive television special, A Tribute to Bernie Mac, and had interviews with his former colleagues including Camille Winbush, Chris Rock, Joe Torry, Cameron Diaz, Don Cheadle, and some of his family members & close friends.During Steve Harvey’s television show which aired November 14, 2016, Harvey read a proclamation from Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaiming November 14 as “Bernie Mac Day”.NEWS,www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chicagoinc/ct-steve-harvey-show-chicago-20161111-story.html, Late Chicago comedian Bernie Mac to be honored on Steve Harvey’s show, November 11, 2017, Tracy, Swartz, Chicago Tribune, Steve Harvey’s guests included Bernie’s wife Rhonda, their daughter Je’Niece, granddaughter Jasmine, and Bernie’s The Original Kings of Comedy co-stars D. L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Guy Torry (who was the original host at the beginning of the tour). Mike Epps, appearing via satellite, along with the principal of Bernie and Rhonda’s alma mater Chicago Vocational High School (CVS), revealed and unveiled the renaming of CVS Auditorium to the “Bernie Mac Auditorium”.NEWS,wgntv.com/2016/11/14/steve-harvey-overcome-with-emotion-as-bernie-mac-day-declared-in-chicago/, Steve Harvey overcome with emotion as ‘Bernie Mac Day’ declared in Chicago, November 14, 2016, WGN-TV, WGN, On February 14, 2017, Rolling Stone named Bernie Mac #41 of the 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time.MAGAZINE,www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/50-best-stand-up-comics-of-all-time-w464199/bernie-mac-w464237, 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time – Slide 41, February 14, 2017, Matthew, Love, Rolling Stone,

Filmography{| class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Title! Role! class = “unsortable” | Notes| 1992| Mo’ Money| Club doorman| | 1993| Who’s the Man?| G-George|| 1994| House Party 3| Uncle Vester|| 1994| Above the Rim| Flip| 1995The Walking Dead (1995 film)>The Walking Dead| Ray|Friday (1995 film)>Friday| Pastor Clever| 1996| Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood| Officer Self Hatred| Cameo| Get on the Bus| Jay| 1997| Booty Call| Judge Peabody|B.A.P.S.>B*A*P*S| Mr. Johnson|| Def Jam’s How to Be a Player| Buster|| 1998| Dollar Bill|| 1999Life (1999 film)>Life| Jangle Lang|| 2000| HimselfDocumentary film>Documentary 2001| What’s the Worst That Could Happen?| Uncle Jack|| Ocean’s Eleven| Frank Catton| 2003Head of State (2003 film)>Head of State| Mitch Gilliam|| (Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle)| Jimmy Bosley|| Bad Santa| Gin Slagel| 2004| Mr. 3000| Stan Ross|| Ocean’s Twelve| Frank Catton| 2005Guess Who (film)>Guess Who | Percy Jones|| Lil’ Pimp| Fruit Juice (voice)|| Inspector Gadget’s Biggest Caper Ever| Gadgetmobile (voice)| 2007Pride (2007 film)>Pride| Elston|| Ocean’s Thirteen| Frank Catton|Transformers (film)>Transformers| Bobby Bolivia| 2008| (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa)| Zuba (voice) Posthumous release| Soul Men| Floyd Henderson| 2009Old Dogs (film)>Old Dogs| Jimmy Lunchbox{| class=“wikitable“|+ Television! Year! Title! Role! class = “unsortable” | Notes| 1996–1999; 2000| Moesha| Uncle Bernie| 9 episodes| 1997| The Wayans Bros.| Shank| 1 episode| 1997| (Don King: Only in America)Drew Bundini Brown>Bundini Brown| Television film | 2001–2006Bernie McCullough>Bernie “Mac” McCullough| 104 episodes| 2003| King of the Hill| Mack| Voice, 1 episode| 2003| Saturday Night Live| Himself/host|“>

Awards and nominations{| class “wikitable”

! Year! Award! Category! Work! Result| 2005title=The Bernie Mac Show – IMDbaccess-date=2019-09-22}}| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series| The Bernie Mac Show| {{win}}Black Reel Awards of 2005>2005| Black Reel Awards| Best Actor, Musical or Comedy| Mr. 3000| {{win}}54th Primetime Emmy Awards>2002Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesThe Bernie Mac Show| rowspan=2 {{nom}}55th Primetime Emmy Awards>200360th Golden Globe Awards>2003Golden Globe AwardsBest Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy| rowspan=2 {{nom}}61st Golden Globe Awards>20042003 Kids’ Choice Awards>2003Kids Choice AwardsFavorite TV Actor| rowspan=4 {{nom}}2004 Kids’ Choice Awards>20042005 Kids’ Choice Awards>20052006 Kids’ Choice Awards>2006| 2002NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Comedy Series| {{nom}}| 2003| {{win}}2004NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture>Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureHead of State (2003 film)>Head of State| {{nom}}Outstanding Actor in a Comedy SeriesThe Bernie Mac Show| {{win}}36th NAACP Image Awards>2005| {{win}}37th NAACP Image Awards>2006| {{win}}38th NAACP Image Awards>2007| {{nom}}| 2003| PRISM Awards| Performance in a Comedy Series| {{win}}7th Golden Satellite Awards>2003Satellite AwardsBest Performance by an Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical| {{win}}8th Golden Satellite Awards>2004| {{win}}9th Golden Satellite Awards>2005| {{nom}}18th TCA Awards>2002TCA Awards>Television Critics Association AwardsTCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy>Individual Achievement in Comedy| {{win}}

References

{{reflist|2}}

External links

{{Commons category|Bernie Mac}}{{Wikinews|American comedian Bernie Mac has pneumonia | American actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50}}

• {{IMDb name}}
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• {{Find a Grave}}
• {{Emmys person|bernie-mac}}
• Bernie Mac Foundation

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