Bernie Mac

{{Infobox comedian

|name = Bernie Mac

|image = BernieMacSoulMenMarch08.jpg

|caption = Mac on the set of Soul Men in March 2008

|birth_name = Bernard Jeffrey McCullough

|birth_date = {{birth date|1957|10|5}}

|birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2008|08|09|1957|10|05}}

|death_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

|resting_place ={{ubl|Washington Memory Gardens|Homewood, Illinois, U.S.}}

|education = Chicago Vocational High School

|spouse = {{marriage|Rhonda McCullough|1977}}

|children = 1

|medium = Stand-up, film, television

|active = 1977–2008

|genre = Observational comedy

|image_size=}}

Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008),{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/bernie-mac-9542611|title=Bernie Mac|website=Biography.com|date=27 April 2021 }} better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, was an American stand up comedian, actor and film producer. 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 The Bernie Mac 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. Bernie Mac died at 50 years old on August 9th, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois of complications from pneumonia.

Early life and education

Bernard Jeffrey McCullough was born on October 5, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/ns/bernie-mac-obituary/115220922|title=Bernie Mac Obituary on Legacy.com|website=Legacy.com|date=10 August 2008 }} Mac was the second child of Mary McCullough and Jeffrey Harrison.{{cite web|url=http://www.berniemacfoundation.org/in-memory/|title=Bernie Mac Foundation|website=www.berniemacfoundation.org|access-date=2017-12-13|archive-date=2018-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123005123/http://www.berniemacfoundation.org/in-memory/|url-status=dead}} Mac was raised by his single mother and his grandparents on the city's south side.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005170/bio|title=Bernie Mac|website=IMDb|access-date=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.{{cite web |url=http://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/89946?page=79 |title= 1975 Chicago Vocational High School Year Book (Chicago, Illinois) |author= |date= 1975 |website=Classmates.com |publisher= |access-date=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."{{Cite web |date=2018-11-08 |title=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 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 Emmy{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/bernie-mac|title=Bernie Mac|work=Television Academy}} for "Outstanding Writing", the Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting, and the Humanitas Prize for television writing that promotes human dignity.[http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/mac/2871519 Bernie Mac obituary] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813224056/http://www.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 issue

During 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."{{cite web |title=Bernie Mac plans to retire his standup comedy act |url=https://www.gainesville.com/article/20070329/News/604157029 |accessdate=2021-04-14 |website=Gainesville Sun |via=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.{{cite web |title=Mac, Bernie 1957 |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/mac-bernie-1957 |website=Encyclopedia.com}}{{cite web |title=Bernie Mac News & Biography - Empire |url=https://www.empireonline.com/people/bernie-mac/ |website=Empire Online}}

Health and death

In the last 20 years of his life, Mac publicly disclosed that he had severe sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown origin that causes inflammation in tissue.{{cite web|title=Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 52|url=http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html |author-link=Suzanne Le Mignot |last=Le Mignot |first=Suzanne |date=August 9, 2010|publisher=CBS2Chicago |access-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021070158/http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html |archive-date=October 21, 2009 }} On July 19, 2008, Mac was admitted to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in his hometown of Chicago.{{Cite magazine|last=Bierly|first=Mandi|date=2008-08-09|title=Bernie Mac dies at 50|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/08/09/bernie-mac-dies-50/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-05|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428005236/http://www.ew.com:80/article/2008/08/09/bernie-mac-dies-50 |archive-date=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.{{Cite web |date=2009-10-21 |title=Actor And Comedian Bernie Mac Dies At Age 50 - cbs2chicago.com |url=http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html |access-date=2023-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021070158/http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bernie.mac.dead.2.791473.html |archive-date=2009-10-21 }} Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Soul Men were released posthumously and dedicated to his memory.

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.{{cite web |title= Bernie Mac's Funeral: "The Hottest Ticket in Town" |url= http://www.whudat.com/newsblurbs/more/bernie-macs-funeral-the-hottest-ticket-in-town-1680817081 |date= August 17, 2010 |publisher= WhuDat |access-date= 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; it too was dedicated in part to Mac. 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".{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chicagoinc/ct-steve-harvey-show-chicago-20161111-story.html |title= Late Chicago comedian Bernie Mac to be honored on Steve Harvey's show |date=November 11, 2017|first=Tracy|last=Swartz|work=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".{{cite news|url=http://wgntv.com/2016/11/14/steve-harvey-overcome-with-emotion-as-bernie-mac-day-declared-in-chicago/ |title=Steve Harvey overcome with emotion as 'Bernie Mac Day' declared in Chicago|date=November 14, 2016|publisher=WGN}}

On February 14, 2017, Rolling Stone named Bernie Mac #41 of the 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/50-best-stand-up-comics-of-all-time-w464199/bernie-mac-w464237|title=50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time – Slide 41|date= February 14, 2017|first=Matthew|last=Love|magazine=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 Fester \|
1994 \| Above the Rim \| Flip \|
rowspan=2 \| 1995 \| The Walking Dead \| Ray \|
Friday \| Pastor Clever \|
rowspan=2 \| 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 \|
rowspan=3 \| 1997 \| Booty Call \| Judge Peabody \|
BAPS* \| Mr. Johnson \|
Def Jam's How to Be a Player \| Buster \|
1998 \| {{sortname\|The\|Players Club}} \| Dollar Bill \|
1999 \| Life \| Jangle Leg \|
2000 \| {{sortname\|The\|Original Kings of Comedy}} \| Himself \| Documentary
rowspan=2 \| 2001 \| What's the Worst That Could Happen? \| Uncle Jack \|
Ocean's Eleven \| Frank Catton \|
rowspan=3 \| 2003 \| Head of State \| Mitch Gilliam \|
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle \| Jimmy Bosley \|
Bad Santa \| Gin Slagel \|
rowspan=2 \| 2004 \| Mr. 3000 \| Stan Ross \|
Ocean's Twelve \| Frank Catton \|
rowspan=3 \| 2005 \| Guess Who \| Percy Jones \|
Lil' Pimp \| Fruit Juice (voice) \|
Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever \| Gadgetmobile (voice) \|
rowspan=3 \| 2007 \| Pride \| Elston \|
Ocean's Thirteen \| Frank Catton \|
Transformers \| Bobby Bolivia \|
rowspan=2 \| 2008 \| Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa \| Zuba (voice) \| rowspan="3" \| Posthumous release
Soul Men \| Floyd Henderson
2009 \| Old Dogs \| Jimmy Lunchbox

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 Fester

1994

| Above the Rim

| Flip

rowspan=2 | 1995

| The Walking Dead

| Ray

Friday

| Pastor Clever

rowspan=2 | 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

rowspan=3 | 1997

| Booty Call

| Judge Peabody

B*A*P*S

| Mr. Johnson

Def Jam's How to Be a Player

| Buster

1998

| {{sortname|The|Players Club}}

| Dollar Bill

1999

| Life

| Jangle Leg

2000

| {{sortname|The|Original Kings of Comedy}}

| Himself

| Documentary

rowspan=2 | 2001

| What's the Worst That Could Happen?

| Uncle Jack

Ocean's Eleven

| Frank Catton

rowspan=3 | 2003

| Head of State

| Mitch Gilliam

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

| Jimmy Bosley

Bad Santa

| Gin Slagel

rowspan=2 | 2004

| Mr. 3000

| Stan Ross

Ocean's Twelve

| Frank Catton

rowspan=3 | 2005

| Guess Who

| Percy Jones

Lil' Pimp

| Fruit Juice (voice)

Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever

| Gadgetmobile (voice)

rowspan=3 | 2007

| Pride

| Elston

Ocean's Thirteen

| Frank Catton

Transformers

| Bobby Bolivia

rowspan=2 | 2008

| Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

| Zuba (voice)

| rowspan="3" | Posthumous release

Soul Men

| Floyd Henderson

2009

| Old Dogs

| Jimmy Lunchbox

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ 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 \| Bundini Brown \| Television film
2001–2006 \| {{sortname\|The\|Bernie Mac Show}} \| Bernie "Mac" McCullough \| 104 episodes
rowspan="2" \| 2003 \| King of the Hill \| Mack \| Voice, 1 episode
Saturday Night Live \| Himself/host \|

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ 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

| Bundini Brown

| Television film

2001–2006

| {{sortname|The|Bernie Mac Show}}

| Bernie "Mac" McCullough

| 104 episodes

rowspan="2" | 2003

| King of the Hill

| Mack

| Voice, 1 episode

Saturday Night Live

| Himself/host

Awards and nominations

class = "wikitable sortable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result
2005 \| BET Comedy Awards{{Citation\|title=The Bernie Mac Show – IMDb\|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285341/awards\|access-date=2019-09-22}} \| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series \| The Bernie Mac Show \| {{win}}
2005 \| Black Reel Awards \| Best Actor, Musical or Comedy \| Mr. 3000 \| {{win}}
2002 \| rowspan=2\|Emmy Awards \| rowspan=2\|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series \| rowspan=10\|The Bernie Mac Show \| rowspan=2 {{nom}}
2003
2003 \| rowspan=2\|Golden Globe Awards \| rowspan=2\|Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy \| rowspan=2 {{nom}}
2004
2003 \| rowspan=4\|Kids Choice Awards \| rowspan=4\|Favorite TV Actor \| rowspan=4 {{nom}}
2004
2005
2006
2002 \| rowspan=7\|NAACP Image Awards \| rowspan=2\|Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series \| {{nom}}
2003 \| {{win}}
rowspan=2\|2004 \| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture \| Head of State \| {{nom}}
rowspan=4\|Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series \| rowspan=9\|The Bernie Mac Show \| {{win}}
2005 \| {{win}}
2006 \| {{win}}
2007 \| {{nom}}
2003 \| PRISM Awards \| Performance in a Comedy Series \| {{win}}
2003 \| rowspan=3\|Satellite Awards \| rowspan=3\|Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical \| {{win}}
2004 \| {{win}}
2005 \| {{nom}}
2002 \| Television Critics Association Awards \| Individual Achievement in Comedy \| {{win}}

class = "wikitable sortable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

2005

| BET Comedy Awards{{Citation|title=The Bernie Mac Show – IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285341/awards|access-date=2019-09-22}}

| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

| The Bernie Mac Show

| {{win}}

2005