By Dan Hart
Aug. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Comedian Bernie Mac, who made his name playing a standup comedian thrust into the role of raising his nieces and nephew, died today following complications with pneumonia. He was 50.
His publicist, Danica Smith, confirmed his death in an e-mailed statement. She declined to disclose any other details. Mac had recently been admitted to a Chicago-area hospital, suffering from pneumonia. The comedian had also had bouts with sarcoidosis, a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect the lungs, since 1983. He disclosed the condition in February 2005.
Mac's TV program, ``The Bernie Mac Show,'' cast the real- life comedian as a standup who suddenly becomes a father when he gains custody of his sister's three children. The show ran from 2001 to 2006.
On the show, which ran on News Corp.'s Fox network, Mac played a by-the-book uncle who had little tolerance for children who misbehaved. His grouchiness, however, was tempered with a soft touch that he often gave in to.
He was nominated twice, in 2003 and 2004, for Golden Globe awards for his work on the comedy. Mac also received two Emmy nominations for the show, in 2002 and 2003, according to the Internet Movie Database Web site.
His film credits include ``Transformers'' (2007), ``Ocean's Eleven'' (2001), Spike Lee's ``Get on the Bus'' (1996), and ``House Party 3'' (1994), according to IMDB. In 1992, he made his film debut in ``Mo' Money.''
`Incredibly Talented'
In ``Ocean's Eleven,'' Mac played a con man working as a card dealer who was recruited by Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, to be an ``inside man'' in the heist plot against a Las Vegas casino.
``Bernie came in and he knocked this role out of the park. He is this incredibly talented actor who looks you straight in the eyes and makes you howl,'' Clooney said in comments posted on the Warner Bros. Web site for the movie.
Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago, where he was raised. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda, and daughter Je'Niece, a son-in-law and a granddaughter, Jasmine, the Chicago Tribune said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Hart in Washington at dahart@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: August 9, 2008 13:51 EDTCONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF BERNIE MAC(A GREAT MAN AND COMEDIAN).
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JAZZIEJ80@aol.com
LET'S ALL REMEMBER HIM FROM WHAT HE DID BEST, MAKE US LAUGH
KINGS OF COMEDY PERFORMANCE:
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