Biography And Filmography:

Comedian and actor Bernie Mac shot onto the scene with the “The Original Kings of Comedy” (2001) after years of working stand-up stages in his native Chicago. His funny material and stage show finally led to his own television sitcom, “The Bernie Mac Show” in 2001. 

He was born Bernard McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago. Early in his life, his funny voices and clever imagination gained him the status as the family clown, and on the advice of a supportive school teacher, he began to focus his energy by acting in school plays in fifth grade and was soon putting on his own shows for the neighborhood kids.  His most encouraging parent, his mother, died of cancer when Bernie was just sixteen years old.

In 1977, he started doing shows on the local comedy circuit, starting what would turn out to be a 30-year career as a stand-up comedian. For over ten years, he polished his style of comedy and put up with the hard lifestyle of the road comic – staying away from home and his new wife for weeks at a time, working for little money to gain exposure and experience. In 1990, he won the prize on the Miller Lite Comedy Search that led to numerous job opportunities. Bernie made his feature movie debut in a small role in the comedy "Mo' Money" (1992) starring Damon and Marlon Wayans, and guest hosted on the HBO specials, "Rosie Perez Presents Society's Ride" (1993) and "Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam" 

In 1994, he was cast in a small part as Uncle Vester in “House Party 3” starring Kid & Play, and appeared as a preacher in the action film "Friday" (1995) starring Chris Tucker and Ice Cube. He then appeared as a member of the ensemble cast in Spike Lee's "Get on the Bus" (1996) with Richard Belzer. A recurring guest appearance role on the popular UPN series "Moesha" (1996-2001) won him even more attention, and Hollywood finally noticed the actor. The comedian was approached by producers at Fox wanting to give the green light for his own television sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show" in 2001. The rest is history.

He played the husband of a professional, childless couple who unexpectedly become guardians of his sister's three young children. The show won a Peabody Award, an Emmy Award for writing, and several Golden Globe nominations and four NAACP Image Awards. His young movie career caused “The Bernie Mac Show” to fade into the background and production was stopped for a time when he came down with a bout of double pneumonia. The show was officially cancelled in 2006.

In 2001, Bernie co-starred as one of the casino robbers in "Ocean's Eleven" (2001), bringing some humor to Steven Soderbergh's crime spree and the subsequent sequels, “Ocean’s Twelve” (2004) and “Ocean’s 13” (2007) starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. He then played a supporting role alongside comedian Chris Rock in, "Head of State" (2003), about a presidential candidate who dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign and the Democratic party unexpectedly picks a Washington, D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) as his replacement

The comedian also played the role of televisions Bosley in "Charlie's Angels 2" (2003) starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, before taking on the funny role of a chain-smoking, vitamin eating, department store detective in the Christmas comedy "Bad Santa" (2003) next to Billy Bob Thornton. 

He was then hired and cast in his first starring role with "Mr. 3000" (2004) starring Angela Bassett, playing an older major leaguer baseball player whose hit record is taken away after retirement, rousing him to return to the field to get back his title. He worked with Ashton Kutcher in "Guess Who?" (2005), about a sarcastic father who has plenty to say about his daughter wanting to marry a white boy (Ashton Kutcher). 

In March 2007, he appeared on “Late Night With David Letterman” and announced to the world that he would retire from stand-up comedy after he completed filming “The Whole Truth, Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Mac” later that year. His announcement stunned audiences who had hoped to still see the comedian on a stage or cable specials in the future. 

Part of the desire to retire was to spend time with his family. Married to wife Rhonda McCullough since 1970, the couple had one daughter, Je’Niece, who was earning a Masters degree in mental health counseling. Bernie had his own health problems - he suffered from a tissue inflammation disease called sarcoidosis, which fortunately did not affect his daily life. 

In 2007, he had one last small role in the Michael Bay thriller sequel "Transformers" (2007) starring a young Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, about an ancient struggle on Earth between two extraterrestrial clans, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a young teenager.

On Saturday August 9, 2008, Bernie died from complications from pneumonia after spending several weeks in the hospital. His death shocked the world as no one seem to understand how sick the actor had been after hearing several upbeat reports that he was responding well to treatment and would soon be released.  

The comedian turned actor was working on several projects prior to his death including the narration of the television reality show "Welcome To The Family" where newly engaged couples from different backgrounds meet each others' families for the first time on national TV. He was also slated to star in the lead role in the television comedy series "Starting Over" about a recently divorced guy who is forced to move in with his twenty-something son.

It's ironic that he will not be able to see the audiences reaction to his first ever leading role in the movie "Soul Men" released in November of 2008. He had completed the film but passed away before the national release. He had also just completed work on the comedy "Old Dogs" released in April 2009 and starring Robin Williams, John Travolta, Seth Green and Rita Wilson, about two friends and business partners who find their lives turned upside down when strange circumstances lead to them being placed in the care of 7-year-old twins.

It is a great legacy for a great actor and comedian who worked his way up the Hollywood ladder his entire life only to pass away before the release of two movies showcasing him in the leading role. 

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