Bernie Mac has died

Bernie Mac has passed away at the age of 50 from complications from pneumonia. The comedian and actor died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago early Saturday morning:

Bernie Mac, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and comedian who worked his way to Hollywood success from an impoverished upbringing on Chicago’s South Side, died Saturday at age 50.

“Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital,” his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.

She said no other details were available and asked that his family’s privacy be respected.

[From The Associated Press]

Mac started his career as a stand up comedian over 30 years ago. He went on to his own sitcom on Fox, The Bernie Mac Show, in 2001, and featured roles in films such as Ocean’s 11, and Charlie’s Angels. Mac planned to retire after he finished work on his film The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Mac. He told David Letterman last year that he wanted to focus on producing and spending time with his family and that “I want to enjoy my life a little bit. I missed a lot of things, you know.”

Mac is survived by his wife of 31 years, Rhonda McCullough, and their daughter Je’Niece, 30.

It was incorrectly reported last week that Mac had passed. His rep said that he was responding well to treatment at that time, and that the reports were inaccurate. Mac was a long time sufferer of sarcoidosis, an auto-immune disorder that causes inflammation in the organs and can affect the lungs.

Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.

Details from Wikipedia and The Chicago Sun Times. File photos of Bernie Mac thanks to WENN