Bernie Mac: Breakthrough Entertainer
- Author Jessica Vandelay
- Published October 11, 2008
- Word count 739
Bernie Mac, an American actor and comedian known for his fiery brand of humor and being one of the few African-American comedians to break out of the traditional "black comedy" genre, died unexpectedly in August 2008 leaving millions of fans and the entertainment industry to mourn a great loss.
Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, Mac was raised on the south side of Chicago, a poor and rough neighborhood, by his single mother. Mac wrote about his up-bringing in his autobiography, "Maybe You Never Cry Again." Mac reveals that he decided to be a comedian in an effort to make his mother laugh.
He started out as a stand-up comedian winning a Miller Lite Comedy Search at clubs like the Cotton Pickin’ Club in Chicago. He appeared in HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, opened for legendary performers Dionne Warwick, Redd Foxx and Natalie Cole and garnered attention from the entertainment industry. He also appeared in many small roles in movies like rapper Ice Cube’s "Friday," which is considered his breakthrough role. Other small roles in films like "Booty Call," "How to Be a Player," "Life" and "What’s the Worst That Could Happen?" Read more about these movies in entertainment magazines like Entertainment Weekly, Essence and People magazine.
In 1999 Mac along with three other African-American comedians—Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer—launched a successful comedy tour that became the highest-grossing comedy tour to date. The purpose and effort was to revive stand-up comedy of great comedians like Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby. In 2000 director Spike Lee filmed a tour stop in Charlotte, NC and the footage became the film "The Original Kings of Comedy."
Largely due to the success of "The Original Kings of Comedy" tour and movie, Mac landed his own sitcom on Fox called "The Bernie Mac Show," in 2001. The TV show was roughly based on his life; his fictional character "Bernie" becomes the custodian of his sister’s three children after she has to go to rehab. Mac talked directly into the camera expressing his traditional views on parenting directly to the audience. The show was popular and ran for 5 seasons and won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Writing" among other awards.
Also in 2001 Mac landed a role in the star-studded remake of the comedy-caper "Ocean’s Eleven," which also starred Hollywood stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The movie was a success and helped Mac land a starring role in "Mr. 3000," which was released in 2004 and was about a retired baseball legend despised by everyone for his cocky attitude who returns to the Major League to recapture his winning record after a tallying error. The movie was a modest success and film critic Roger Ebert praised Mac’s performance, "Bernie Mac gives a funny and kind of touching performance as a man who attains greatness once and then has to do it again."
After "Mr. 3000" Mac’s film career took off. Between 2004 and 2008 Mac broke out of traditional black movie roles with starring roles in a variety of movies including the "Ocean’s Eleven," sequels, "Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle," "Bad Santa," "Guess Who?" and "Transformers" and many more. Read more about these movies in Entertainment Weekly magazine.
Fans, colleagues and the entertainment industry were shocked and saddened when in August of 2008 Mac died from complications of pneumonia. At first Mac’s publicist released a vague explanatory statement regarding the performer’s death but shortly thereafter Mac’s family confirmed the actor and comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an immune system disorder. Mac’s death brought much-needed attention to the rare disease. For more info on sarcoidosis, read health magazines like Prevention, Health and Men’s Health magazines.
Mac’s sister-in-law and wife spoke exclusively to People magazine regarding the actor and comedian’s death. Mac left behind his wife Rhonda of 30 years and a daughter. Of his death Rhonda told People magazine, "I get through because I know he's in a better place now."
News of Mac’s death swept through the media with mentions in all major news magazines, celebrity magazines and black men magazines. Magazines like People, Time, Essence, Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone all ran appreciations and tributes.
In a sad twist of fate Mac’s co-star in the upcoming comedy film Soul Men, to be released in the fall of 2008, Isaac Hayes, died shortly after Mac from an apparent stroke while exercising at his home near Memphis.
For more on African-American magazines, visit http://www.magazines.com/category/african-american.
Jessica Vandelay is a freelance writer in New York City.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- CholoMMA
- Time: Is it an illusion?
- The Sweetest Gift: Why You Should Continue Giving Hickeys Even After Growing Up
- Online editor for photo retouching Pixelmaniya is one of many, but not the same as all
- 9 Dentistry Jokes That Are Sure to Make You Smile
- Hilarious Jokes That Can Make Your Dental Visits More Fun
- Gangs of the Lake.
- Call Me Chuck.
- Mirror, Mirror, On the wall...
- A Bobcat
- Photographs that displays emotions not just poses!
- Funny Short Stories
- Funny Christmas Stories to Share with Your Loved Ones
- Chapter 11-- Summer of '70
- Chapter 4 --1st grade
- Top Nerd Girlfriend Freakouts
- Funniest Show Touches the Heart of Everyone
- UK Property: Have you ever thought about down-sizing?
- Easy Ways To Get Whiplash Claim And Compensation
- Winnie the Pooh Quotes and Nothing Else
- One liners funny like never before
- Humor Column: The Only Blues You Should Be Playing is B.B. King
- Confessions of a cross-stitcher
- Hanging with a clock collector
- He's a Mustache Machine!
- Funny Sayings and Messages
- Secrets Behind a Successful Comedy Podcast
- Stand up comedian funny podcasts are dominating Internet radio
- Free comedy – The Smartest Way to Locate the Funniest Video Clips Online
- Los Angeles Stand Up Comedians on the Move