RIP Bernie Mac 1957 - 2008

The world of comedy said an untimely and unfortunate goodbye to one of its greats on Saturday. A true class act and one cool comedian, Bernie Mac passed away due to complications from pneumonia. Mac's best known for his standup comedy, his television show the Bernie Mac Show and multiple movie roles. Notable films Mac starred in were Mr. 3000, Bad Santa, Transformers, and the Oceans' series alongside George Clooney and Brad Pitt. He also had a huge standup comedy hit movie alongside DL Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey entitled "The Original Kings of Comedy". This DVD continues to stay in rotation in many fans' movie collections. Bernie Mac was personable, had a great delivery style and a sense of calm and collectivity about him. Mac's cool demeanor was even present during an episode of Punk'd. The gist of the stunt was Mac was being driven in a car, and the driver (a plant by Punk'd) chose to run a redlight. Immediately a cop car pulled the car over for running the red. The cops tried to give Mac a hard time but he kept his cool during their irritating routine. Even after the joke was exposed, it was hard for Mac to admit he had been Punk'd. He reacted calmly and coolly throughout the gag. Mac suffered from an inflammatory lung diseases known as which went into remission in 2005. On August 1, 2008 he checked into a hospital for pneumonia. His publicist noted a day or so later that Mac was responding well to treatment and would be released soon. However just about a week later on August 9, Mac passed away due to complications of pneumonia. Mac would be 51 in October. Although he lived just a half century, his comedic brilliance and ability to get people to laugh around the world will never be forgotten. Read more about Bernie Mac at his Wikipedia page.