In 2001, he gave an impressive performance in a supporting role as the villain 'Gin Slagel, The Store Dick' in Bad Santa. Mac was able to break from the traditional 'black comedy' genre, having roles in the 2001 remake of Ocean's Eleven and becoming the new Bosley for the Charlie's Angels sequel, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Following that role, Mac had his first starring role as 'Dollar Bill', a silly, slick-talking club owner in The Players Club. Later, Mac also acted in minor roles and got his big break as 'Pastor Clever' in Ice Cube's 1995 film Friday. He also had a short-lived talk show on HBO titled Midnight Mac. He played a small role in 1994's House Party 3 as Uncle Vester. He opened for Dionne Warwick, Redd Foxx and Natalie Cole.

A performance on HBO's Def Comedy Jam thrust him into the spotlight. After he won the Miller Lite Comedy Search at the age of 32, his popularity as a comedian began to grow. Mac started as a stand-up comedian in Chicago's Cotton Club.

Career īernie Mac's influences were from The Three Stooges and listening to stand-up comedians Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. During his 20s, he worked in a variety of jobs, including furniture mover and a United Parcel Service (UPS) agent. He attended Chicago Vocational Career Academy. He put on shows for neighborhood kids on the city's South Side. His death on Augwas caused by complications from pneumonia.īernie Mac was born and raised in southern Chicago, Illinois by his single mother, Mary, who died of cancer when he was 16. Mac had said the condition was in remission in 2005. Lung scarring or infection may lead to respiratory failure and death. Mac suffered from sarcoidosis, a disease in which abnormal collections of chronic inflammatory cells (granulomas) form as nodules in multiple organs, particularly the lungs and lymph nodes.

His other films included starring roles in Booty Call, Friday, The Players Club, Head of State, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Bad Santa, Guess Who, Pride, Soul Men, Transformers and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He was the star of The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001 through 2006, earning him two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. His most noted film role was as Frank Catton in the remake Ocean's Eleven and the titular character of Mr. Hughley as The Original Kings of Comedy.Īfter briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in several films in smaller roles. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. Born and raised on the South Side, of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. A gifted stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, and comedian. Bernard Jeffrey ' Bernie' McCullough (born October 5, 1957- died August 9, 2008), better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, appeared as Shank in the episode titled I Do.

The bernie mac show full episodes free