Mac was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised by a single mother, Mary. She died of cancer when he was 16 years old. Mac attended Chicago Vocational Career Academy and started his comedy career during high school. He put on shows for neighborhood kids on Chicago's South Side until briefly moving to Tampa, Florida. During his 20s he worked in a variety of jobs, including furniture mover, UPS agent and bread delivery sales rep.
Mac married Rhonda McCullough in 1977. They had one daughter, Je'Niece (born 1978), who attended Xavier University of Louisiana, where she received both her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. She is married with one daughter, Jasmine.
Death
Mac 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.
On July 24, 2008, he was hospitalized with an infection, that was later identified as pneumonia. The news of his hospitalization was not announced for over a week, when his publicist claimed that Mac had pneumonia. The next day, responding to rumors that the actor was in "very, very critical condition," his publicist said that he was responding well to treatment, and should be released soon. On August 9, his publicist announced that Mac had died from complications of pneumonia unrelated to sarcoidosis.
The 2008 Bud Billiken Parade in Chicago, on the day he died, was dedicated to his memory.
His funeral was held on August 16 at the House of Hope megachurch. More than 6,000 people attended his funeral. Among mourners, were Jeremy Suarez, Chris Rock, Richard M. Daley, Samuel L. Jackson and the remaining Kings of Comedy: D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Steve Harvey.
At the time of his death, he had finished working on the film Soul Men with Isaac Hayes, who, coincidentally, died the next day.
Quick Info
Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough
October 5, 1957, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died August 9, 2008 (aged 50), Chicago, Illinois, United States
Mac married Rhonda McCullough in 1977. They had one daughter, Je'Niece (born 1978), who attended Xavier University of Louisiana, where she received both her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. She is married with one daughter, Jasmine.
Death
Mac 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.
On July 24, 2008, he was hospitalized with an infection, that was later identified as pneumonia. The news of his hospitalization was not announced for over a week, when his publicist claimed that Mac had pneumonia. The next day, responding to rumors that the actor was in "very, very critical condition," his publicist said that he was responding well to treatment, and should be released soon. On August 9, his publicist announced that Mac had died from complications of pneumonia unrelated to sarcoidosis.
The 2008 Bud Billiken Parade in Chicago, on the day he died, was dedicated to his memory.
His funeral was held on August 16 at the House of Hope megachurch. More than 6,000 people attended his funeral. Among mourners, were Jeremy Suarez, Chris Rock, Richard M. Daley, Samuel L. Jackson and the remaining Kings of Comedy: D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Steve Harvey.
At the time of his death, he had finished working on the film Soul Men with Isaac Hayes, who, coincidentally, died the next day.
Quick Info
Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough
October 5, 1957, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died August 9, 2008 (aged 50), Chicago, Illinois, United States
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