AP NewsAlert
CHICAGO (AP) — Bernie Mac's publicist says the actor and comedian has died. .
Comic actor Bernie Mac dies
- Story Highlights
- Television, film actor/comedian dies in Chicago, Illinois
- He had been hospitalized more than a week with pneumonia
- Mac known for self-named sitcom, "Ocean's Eleven" movies
- Columnist: 'He was the best of the best in terms of giving you a good laugh'
(CNN) -- Comic actor Bernie Mac died early Saturday of complications from pneumonia, according to a family member and his publicist. He was 50.
He had been hospitalized in Chicago, Illinois, for more than a week with the lung infection.
Danica Smith, the comedian's publicist, had said Thursday that Mac's condition was "stable," The Associated Press reported.
"When I got the call this morning, it was just devastating news," said Chicago Sun-Times columnist Stella Foster. "Let's face it: Bernie Mac was one of a kind. He was the best of the best in terms of giving you a good laugh."
Smith previously said the pneumonia wasn't related to sarcoidosis, a lung disease Mac had, which had been in remission since 2005, according to AP.
Mac caused a stir in July with some jokes he made during a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, AP reported.
Mac -- born Bernard Jeffrey McCollough -- starred in the Fox television series "The Bernie Mac Show." His film roles included the "Ocean's Eleven" series, "Friday," "Get on the Bus," "Transformers" and "Bad Santa."
Comedian, South Sider Bernie Mac, dies at 50
Sun-Times Exclusive: Comedian Bernie Mac died at Northwestern Memorial hospital early Saturday morning, according to Sun-Times Columnist, Stella Foster. He was 50. Though the cause of death has not been confirmed, Mac had been hospitalized recently for pneumonia. Foster said that she received calls early Saturday morning from a close friend of the Mac family, confirming the reports of Mac's death.
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