Bernie Mac
Bernie Mac, born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on October 5, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, was a talented comedian and actor celebrated for his unique comedic style and contributions to the entertainment industry. Growing up in a challenging environment, including the long-term illness of his mother, Mac found inspiration in humor, vowing to bring joy to others through comedy. He began his career performing at local comedy clubs while juggling various day jobs to support his family.
Mac gained national recognition after winning a talent search that led to his appearance on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam" and later starred in the influential documentary "The Original Kings of Comedy." His film career included roles in popular movies like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Bad Santa." Additionally, he created and starred in "The Bernie Mac Show," which ran from 2001 to 2006, showcasing his ability to connect with audiences through relatable storytelling.
Despite facing health challenges, including a long battle with sarcoidosis, Mac remained active in stand-up comedy and left a lasting impact on the industry until his passing on August 9, 2008. Through his work, Bernie Mac not only entertained but also opened doors for future generations of comedians, making him a significant figure in American comedy.
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Subject Terms
Bernie Mac
Actor and comedian
- Born: October 5, 1957
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: August 9, 2008
- Place of death: Chicago, Illinois
Mac’s relatively short career in entertainment was a prolific one. He started out as a stand-up comedian, became a star in The Original Kings of Comedy, and acted in more than thirty roles in television and film.
Early Life
Bernie Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, on October 5, 1957. He grew up with his mother, two brothers, and his grandparents. His grandfather was the deacon in a Baptist church. Mac’s mother battled cancer for nearly twenty years. As a child, Mac came across his mother crying from the pain of the disease. He sat on her lap and, as they watchedBill Cosby perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, she stopped crying and started laughing. Mac vowed to become a comedian so that she would never cry again. She died when he was sixteen.
In his 2003 memoir, Maybe You Never Cry Again, Mac wrote that his childhood struggles inspired his comedy: “I came from a place where there wasn’t a lot of joy,” he recalled. “I decided to try to make other people laugh when there wasn’t a lot of things to laugh about.”
Mac spent his youth honing his craft by performing in school plays, directing his church choir, and playing in a band. He also began telling jokes on Chicago’s “L” train platforms. When Mac got older, he worked as a courier, bus driver, furniture mover, and a bread-delivery sales representative. In 1977, at the age of nineteen, Mac married his high school sweetheart, Rhonda. They had a daughter, Je’Niece, a year later. He worked nights at Chicago comedy clubs for two beers and no pay while working day jobs to support his young family.
Life’s Work
When Mac was thirty-two, he won a national stand-up comic talent search that secured him a spot on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. His film career started with a small role in the Damon Wayans comedy Mo’ Money in 1992, followed by parts in Friday (1995) and Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus (1996). He also landed a recurring role in the television sitcom Moesha.
Mac’s career got a large boost when he starred in The Original Kings of Comedy, a 2000 documentary film and tour that introduced a new generation of black stand-up comedy stars to a wider audience. The tour’s four stars—Mac, Steve Harvey, D. L. Hughley, and Cedric the Entertainer—were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 2001. Mac’s Kings experience propelled him to roles in the popular Ocean’s Eleven (2001) with Brad Pitt and George Clooney, Head of State (2003) with Chris Rock, Bad Santa (2003) with Billy Bob Thornton, and the starring role in Mr. 3000 (2004). His own television show, The Bernie Mac Show, about a child-averse couple who suddenly are saddled with three children, debuted on the Fox network in 2001 and ran until 2006. Mac shined as he broke the “fourth wall” to address the camera about his frustrations as a parent.
Mac died on August 9, 2008, from complications of pneumonia. He had been diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease, in 1984, and periodically battled health problems related to the disease.
Significance
In a relatively short career, Mac appeared in more than thirty film and television roles, including a seven-year run as the lead actor, writer, and producer of The Bernie Mac Show. He continued to perform stand-up comedy until his death, wrote two books, and won a number of awards.
Bibliography
Gates, Henry Louis, Jr. “The Chameleon: Bernie Mac.” In America Behind the Color Line: Dialogues with African Americans. New York: Warner Books, 2004. In a wide-ranging interview, Mac discusses The Bernie Mac Show, his upbringing, and his take on African American culture.
Mac, Bernie. I Ain’t Scared of You: Bernie Mac on How Life Is. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. Candid and entertaining look at Mac’s life, written with self-deprecating humor.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. Maybe You Never Cry Again. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. Excellent, witty memoir detailing Mac’s childhood and rise to fame.