Comedian Bernie Mac died this morning in Chicago after a long hospitalization from pneumonia.
Mac, whose real name is Bernard McCullough, passed away early this morning at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He was 50 years old.
“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.
The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body’s organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.
The day before he died, Mac’s rep insisted he was stable, in no danger and expected to be released within the week, even though it was clear Mac was on his death bed.
This is a tremendous shock to me — this man will be missed greatly.
source: Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50 [associated press]
Comedian Bernie Mac was in “very, very critical” condition late Saturday at a Chicago hospital, according to a Chicago Sun-Times source who knows the comedian’s family.
The revelation came after Mac’s publicist told Chicago media Saturday that she had received multiple calls from news outlets regarding “absolutely untrue” rumors of the star’s demise.
“It is a very horrible rumor,” publicist Danica Smith said. “It is absolutely untrue. Nothing has changed from yesterday.”
The 50-year-old south suburban resident’s hospitalization was reported Friday. His publicist said then that the “King of Comedy” was admitted for pneumonia but was responding well to treatment, and should be released soon.
Smith also said she didn’t know when Mac, whose real name is Bernard McCullough, entered the hospital. She said the pneumonia was unrelated to Mac’s sarcoidosis, a chronic disease that can inflame tissue, particularly in the lungs. Smith said Mac’s sarcoidosis has been in remission since 2005.
His wife, Rhonda McCullough, has been with him at the hospital.
Mac’s long list of television and film credits include “The Bernie Mac Show,” “Ocean’s 11,” “Transformers,” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.”
source: Bernie Mac ‘very, very critical,’ source says [chicago sun-times]
