The Great Loss on a Comedy King

Actor-comedian Bernie Mac succumbed to complications of pneumonia nearly two weeks ago on August 9; he was just 50 years old. Bernie was well remembered by co-stars and friends last Tuesday on CNN's Larry King Live. King hosted a tribute to the Mr. 3000 star. On hand were friends D. L. Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer from The Original Kings of Comedy with Steve Harvey on satellite. Like many who knew The Mac Man, they shared how real and true to form he was as a performer and a person. While there were moments Bernie would hang with his fellow comedy kings, he stayed out enough for one drink and he would head back to the hotel and chill; he wasn't one for staying out all night. It seems that all four gain much notoriety on Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam (HBO), the hit comedy film/documentary brought them closer as brothers; it solidified their friendship. At one point while Larry was showing various clips of Bernie's work, Steve can be seen being a little choked up. Who wouldn't right? People loved Bernie Mac; thousands were also hurt and shocked by the news of his passing; as were his friends.

At first everyone thought it was another rumor because there was talk of his passing about a week prior. Steve was actually in Chicago when he got the news about the Life star; he was there to host the Bud Billiken Parade which was dedicated to Bernie. It took Rev. Al Sharpton to tell him for it to really sink in. Cedric got word via a morning phone call from his manager.

The interview turned to Bernie's appearance at a $2300 a person fundraiser for Presidential Candidate Barack Obama that took place in July. Apparently Bernie's raw sense of humor didn't sit well with Obama supporters. What did they expect to happen? As D. L. told Larry "I wouldn't book Bernie for a kid's party." He wasn't in his element but that shouldn't matter, he would make the best of this situation. Think about it, do you really think that someone that kept it real like Bernie is going to censor himself? He wasn't someone who would compromise himself for the sake of others - he could just take it or leave it.

Ashton Kutcher played Bernie's soon to be son-in-law in 2005's Guess Who, the remake of the Sidney Poitier film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). He tells Larry in the studio that he found it to be a pleasure to work with the comedian. He was glad t get to know him.

His television family shared fond memories of being together on the Peabody Award winning The Bernie Mac Show. Larry asked Kellita Smith how it felt when she found out she'd be working with Bernie, "I was already a fan, are you kidding me?" The thing she liked most was that the worked so well together; which was true as you could see how well they bounced off one another. The children consider him a father figure on set.

Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, he was embarking on retirement after he would finish taping the comedy film, The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Mac. With completing both Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa with Chris Rock and Soul Men with Samuel L. Jackson and Isaac Hayes, the latter passed away the next day on August 10 of an apparent stroke; Bernie left on a good note. He is immortalized in film and Def Comedy DVDs and clips on the net. He was a devoted family man which shone through on his television show; he leaves behind wife and high school sweetheart Rhonda, his daughter Je'Niece and granddaughter Jasmine. As George Clooney said "The world just a little less funny." Rest in peace Bernie, you will be dearly missed.