The SpotLight – Bernie Mac

posted by SWEET SCENT

August 9, 2008 would truly prove to be a sad day. It was anounced in the Chicagotribune that Comedian and actor Bernie Mac died early Saturday morning from complications due to pneumonia. He passed away at Northwestern Hospital.

When he was just a kid, Bernie Mac wanted to make his mother laugh, and being that he was a big fan of Bill Cosby back then, he knew he wanted to become a comedian. He wanted to be just as funny as Bill Cosby. As fate would have it, his mother would not live to see him become as big as his idol and mentor. 

Bernie Mac became a household name, and also one of the funniest comedians of our time. He achieved great success in everything he did. Movies, Contributions, Appearences, and Comedy. He performed for decades selling out audiences everywhere. Making legions of fans laugh till it hurted! Bernie Mac was married for over 30 years. He was rooted in family values. From 2001 – 2006 Mac played a nononsense father figure on his own sitcom show, The Bernie Mac Show, which earned him two Emmy Acting nominations for playing himself.

Mac was much more accurate doing his own Stand up Comedy act. He was born in Chicago in 1957. His real name was Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, which was a Surname that lent itself the nickname MAC. The future star  was a kid, when he saw his mother crying with laughter, watching Bill Cosby on the ed sullivan show. From then on he knew he wanted to make people laugh, and mabey he would never see his mother cry again. In 2003 he wrote his autobiography, nameing it ” Mabey You Never Cry Again.”

While attending a Community College, Bernie Mac would perform on platforms, and trains. Every now and then Commuters would give him money. He knew then he was on his way.

Starring in 1992’s Mo Money, Mac began getting parts in movies. He validated his comedy credentials in 1995’s HBO special Midnight Mac. In 1999 he landed a supporting role in the movie “Life” the Prison comedy with Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy. This placed him on our own Hollywood Walk Of Fame! But this was really just the beginning. With his career on the move, he secured his status as a household name in 2000, when he performed in “The Original Kings Of Comedy” directed by Spike Lee!

This movie went on to become the biggest grossing Standup Comedy film, second to Eddie Murphy Raw. Out of the rest of the cast which included Cedric the entertainer, Steve Harvey, and D.L Hugely, Bernie became a Instant star out of the four of them. However Bernie Mac never changed, he always stayed humble throughout his career. With no sign of it slowing down, there are more projects coming up, such as Ben Stiller’s Lion father in (“Madagascar 2″) Escape from africa,  which is due out in November. His Fox series wasn’t picked up for the fall either. So Mac still had plenty to do.

 

It was evident that Bernie Mac was a Go-getter, always saying-

“I don’t want to stop until I’m better than myself. I am a professional, I can go whichever way the wind blows, as long as I get a breeze.”

 

Bernie Mac I want to say -

THANK YOU for the many years of JOY and LAUGHTER you brought to all of us. You are now truly, a bright star shining above. God bless your family.

From one of your many legions of fans, you will always be missed and loved, and I know you are looking down and laughing with us all, as you eat your milk and cookies in the sky. 

-Farewell

 

 

SWEET SCENT-