Google
 

Dig A Hole: Bernie Mac

August 9th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Of all the members of Ocean’s 11, who’d have thought that Carl Reiner would outlive Bernie Mac?

In February 2005, the comedian revealed that he had suffered from sarcoidosis since 1983. He said the inflammatory lung disease, that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body’s organs, had no effect on his daily life and that it had gone into remission. Earlier this month, he was hospitalized for pneumonia and rumors that Mac was in serious condition began swirling. His publicist, Danica Smith, said that he was expected to make a full recovery. Sadly, she was wrong.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist (and heiress to the Kupcinet throne) Stella Foster received calls early Saturday morning from a close friend of the Mac family. Bernie Mac died from complications of pneumonia at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial hospital. He was only 50.

Bernard Jeffrey McCollough was born on the south side of Chicago on October 5, 1957. He was raised by his mother Mary who died of cancer when Mac was just 16. In an interview with freelance writer Khari Shabazz. Mac claimed that as a child he had been whipped with a belt by both his mother and grandmother.

While attended Chicago Chicago’s Vocational Career Academy, Mac began putting on shows for neighbor kids. In 1977, at the age of 20, he decided to turn pro. His first job as a stand-up comic was at Chicago’s Cotton Pickin’ Club. His career began building steam when he won the Miller Lite Comedy Search at the age of 32. A performance on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam brought him national attention and before long he was opening for Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole and the inimitable Redd Foxx.

Continue reading Dig A Hole: Bernie Mac

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Filed Under Obituaries