Ellington

The famous comic actor had been battling sarcoidosis and said he was getting better, but pneumonia is what took his life today. From CNN:

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- 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.

Bernie Mac, 50, was nominated for a Grammy for "The Original Kings of Comedy."

"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, California.

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.

Recently, Mac's brand of comedy caught him flack when he was heckled during a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama.

Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine, Mac joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language. The performance earned him a rebuke from Obama's campaign.

"Wherever I am, I have to play," he said in 2002. "I have to put on a good show."

I must admit that he still seemed somewhat ill to me when I saw him on television recently, but I figured it would take time for him to full recover. The death from pneumonia, on the other hand, is a shock to the system, and I am saddened by it. My prayers go out to his family, friends and fans. We'll miss you, man.

UPDATE: Here's some CNN footage from YouTube:

Previous Comments

ID

132959

Comment

I didn't even know he was sick. I am shocked by his death. He was a good comedian.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-08-09T19:55:58-06:00

ID

132961

Comment

Bernie America will miss you> Thank you for your years of entertaining us. Your TV show was watched and loved by the whole family. Most of us have had to deal with the same problems you did with your tv kids and so we used some of your technecics(sic) and they worked. Good by Bernie.

Author

jada

Date

2008-08-10T00:16:03-06:00

ID

132966

Comment

It's been a day and it's still sinking in. The sudden death of a comedian is always extra sad. Robin Harris, Sam Kinnison, Chris Farley...who am I missing?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-08-10T14:55:17-06:00

ID

132967

Comment

First Bernie, now Isaac Hayes. This is really sad.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-08-10T15:24:18-06:00

ID

132968

Comment

Isaac Hayes thread

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-08-10T16:14:59-06:00

ID

132972

Comment

You know I remember reading an article after Bernie Mac made it big. He was most excited about being able to provide for his family. He was a great comic, but more than that, he was a family man - he believed in people. Bernie, we will miss you. "I ain't scared of you...."

Author

lanier77

Date

2008-08-11T07:55:35-06:00

ID

132975

Comment

Bernie's death shocked and saddened me just as much as Robin Harris' death did in 1990. Two incredibly funny and talented comedians who died too young. RIP, Bernie Mac.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-08-11T09:29:28-06:00

ID

132979

Comment

I was surprised to learn that he had suffered from sarcoidosis. That disease, which probably complicated his pneumonia, can be pretty rough.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-08-11T10:26:44-06:00

ID

132980

Comment

RIP Mac Man. He really was one of the Kings of Comedy.

Author

Tre

Date

2008-08-11T13:16:56-06:00

ID

133036

Comment

Bernie was likely my favorite comedian right after Richard Pryor. I also liked the fact that Bernie was a nice human being and good family man who stuck to his roots in Chicago and avoided going too Hollywood-like. He tried to be real.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-08-13T12:29:41-06:00

ID

133138

Comment

Funeral was on Saturday

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-08-17T15:24:50-06:00