MzSerena’s Garden

Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50

CHICAGO (AP) — Bernie Mac, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and comedian who worked his way to Hollywood success from an impoverished upbringing on Chicago’s South Side, died Saturday at age 50.

“Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital,” his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.

She said no other details were available and asked that his family’s privacy be respected.

The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body’s organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.

Recently, Mac’s brand of comedy caught him flack when he was heckled during a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama.

Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine, Mac joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language. The performance earned him a rebuke from Obama’s campaign.

But despite controversy or difficulties, in his words, Mac was always a performer.

“Wherever I am, I have to play,” he said in 2002. “I have to put on a good show.”

Mac started his comedy career at age 8, with a standup performance at a church dinner. In 1977, at age 20, he took that act to comedy clubs in Chicago.

His film career started with a small role as a club doorman in the Damon Wayans movie “Mo’ Money” in 1992. Mac went on to star in the “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise with Brad Pitt and George Clooney and his turn with Ashton Kutcher in 2005′s “Guess Who?” — a remake of the Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn 1967 classic “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” — topped the box office.

Mac also had starring roles in “Bad Santa,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Transformers.”

The comedian drew critical and popular acclaim with his Fox television series “The Bernie Mac Show,” which aired more than 100 episodes from 2001 to 2006.

The series about a man’s adventures raising his sister’s three children, won a Peabody Award in 2002. At the time, judges wrote they chose the sitcom for transcending “race and class while lifting viewers with laughter, compassion — and cool.”

The show garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Mac. He also was nominated for a Grammy award for best comedy album in 2001 along with his “The Original Kings of Comedy” co-stars, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric The Entertainer.

In 2007, Mac told David Letterman on CBS’ “Late Show” that he planned to retire soon.

“I’m going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit,” Mac told Letterman. “I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977.”

Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago. He grew up on the city’s South Side, living with his mother and grandparents. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist church.

In his 2004 memoir, “Maybe You Never Cry Again,” Mac wrote about having a poor childhood — eating bologna for dinner — and a strict, no-nonsense upbringing.

Mac’s mother died of cancer when he was 16. In his book, Mac said she was a support for him and told him he would surprise everyone when he grew up.

“Woman believed in me,” he wrote. “She believed in me long before I believed.”

Associated Press writer Carla Johnson also contributed to this report.

The Associated Press: Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50

Whoa.  I don’t really know how much I can say about this one.  I never saw that coming.  I had read that he was better and going to be allowed to go home just yesterday.  That sucks.  I wasn’t really an overly big Bernie Mac fan, but it always sucks to see someone’s life end sooner than it should have. It’s a reminder of how quickly life can end and a big kick in the ass to remind you to make the most of every day because you don’t know if there will be a tomorrow.

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Be careful, though, and only take things that your doctor says is okay. Period.

So in the last day, I sat and wrote two articles about Las Vegas. One is about the worst tourist traps and the other is about free gambling lessons. I have two more than I need to write tomorrow too. I am enjoying writing them, which is totally different for me. Usually I hate the idea of writing articles, not knowing if they’re going to get accepted or not. I hope that all of them are, since I really could use the extra padding to my bank account.

It sucks, this coming weekend (13-16th) is the annual Spencer Picnic and Friday’s paycheck is going to be almost nil, thanks to the week off last week. I want to filter all of my money into my primary checking account rather than into my secondary account for savings. I did take $20 today and buy the absolutely freaking coolest hoodie from someone in fatshionista. This makes the second one I’ve bought from that community. *glares at girlghoul for talking about it*

I could totally see myself spending more money on stuff if I had it. I cancelled my preorder for Breaking Dawn because of the money situation, but I reserved it from the library and I snagged a copy of the audio book to tide me over. I can listen to that, then read the book when I get it. I don’t absorb the whole thing when I do the audio book because I’m always doing other things and don’t focus enough energy listening totally.

Ah well, life will go on and I will be alright.

Made by goodgal996

So, last year before tax season started, I looked into Jackson Hewitt’s tax school but I never heard with them until April. I was quite surprised to hear from them, but I was very happy about it and told them that I’d definitely be interested in hearing more when the time came. Well Tuesday when we were gone, they called to talk to me. I forgot to call them back and they called me again today.

The woman asked if I was still interested and I said that I was, so she let me know that the course starts September 8th and that the only cost is the $80 book. I can handle that for sure and if it goes well, I can go to work as a preparer for them. I wouldn’t have a single problem with working for the local Jackson Hewitt office, especially since it’s right across from Rob’s work and our schedules could mesh well enough that it wouldn’t be a hardship. That is, as long as he doesn’t go back on opening or closing.

I am excited about the opportunity and can’t wait to get started. I took a tax course in college, but that was 10 years ago and a lot of things have changed since then. This will be a fun and exciting opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.