Bernie Mac's cause of death explained: The rare condition he battled
Bernie Mac's cause of death helped create awareness about a mysterious and rare condition that several people have battled with for decades.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bernie Jeffrey McCullough was an actor, comedian, television personality, and author respected and beloved by colleagues and fans. His demise on 9 August 2008 marked the end of several years of almost endless influence in the entertainment industry. Like the legend that he was, his untimely death unravelled a disease referred to as sarcoidosis.
Profile summary
| Full name | Bernard Jeffrey McCullough |
| Nickname | Bernie Mac |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 5 October 1957 |
| Age at death | 50 years old |
| Date of death | 9 August 2008 |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 6'3" (190 cm) |
| Hair colour | Black (often shaved) |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Parents | Mary McCullough and Jeffrey Harrison |
| Siblings | One |
| Marital status | Married (at the time of his death) |
| Wife | Rhonda McCullough (1977-2008) |
| Children | Je'Niece McCullough |
| Profession | Comedian, actor, author |
| Net worth | $10 million at the time of his death |
Bernie Mac's cause of death
Bernie Mac died on 9 August 2008 at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He had been undergoing treatment for three weeks in a struggle with pneumonia. The hospital admitted Bernie on 24 July 2008 after he complained of fever and difficulty breathing.
It was during his hospitalisation that he suffered a second strain of pneumonia, which complicated his condition. The stand-up comedian went into cardiac arrest twice, and the second was the nail to his coffin as efforts to stabilise him proved abortive. According to ABC News, during an interview granted after Bernie Mac's death. His wife, Rhonda McCullough, said:
I remember telling him, I said, 'Please don't, don't die, I'm here. I'm waiting for you. I'll take care of you. Just don't, don't die. Don't die. My whole life was him. Since I was 16, I didn't know what I was gonna do. It's like, what is my reasoning for being here now? What is my purpose? How am I going to make it now?
Source: Original
What disease did Bernie Mac die from?
Bernie Mac's pneumonia episodes were frequent and documented to be his immediate cause of death. However, questions were asked about the role of his battle with sarcoidosis in his demise.
According to Chron, sarcoidosis is a subversive disease that provokes the immune system to attack the sufferer's lung along with other body organs. Bernie Mac's sarcoidosis has reportedly been in remission since 2005.
In an article by Cleveland, health specialists implied that the prescriptions used to care for the disease might have made him more vulnerable to the bouts of pneumonia that eventually ended his life.
How long did Bernie Mac have sarcoidosis before he died?
Comedian Bernie Mac found out he had sarcoidosis after a correct diagnosis in 1983. According to Sarcoidosis UK, he was 26 years old then, so he continued his career in the entertainment industry for another 25 years until he died in 2008.
Although whispers of Bernie Mac's eye disease abound online, sarcoidosis reportedly affected only his skin and lungs throughout its lifetime. Experts believe the disease's impact on his immune system should have raised more concern.
Source: Getty Images
How long has Bernie Mac been dead?
2024 marks 16 years since the stand-up comedian passed away. Even after Bernie Mac's funeral, his legacy continues through his advocacy work.
What was Bernie Mac's age when he died?
Bernie Mac's age at death was 50 years old. He passed away two months before his 51st birthday. His last words were in sign language. His wife and their daughter Je'Niece were with him when he gave a sign of his exhaustion.
Rhonda later recounted this emotional moment as his acknowledgement of his body's inability to take the pain any longer.
Frequently asked questions
Bernie Mac's demise did not leave a hole in the heart of his family alone. Several inquiries have been made into his life and death. Below are some questions fans ask and the best answers:
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- What was the real reason Bernie Mac died? The comedian's demise was a result of the side effects of medications used to treat his sarcoidosis.
- What disease did Bernie Mac die from? Pneumonia is documented to be the primary cause of Mac's death.
- Where was Bernie Mac buried? He is entombed at Washington Memory Gardens in Homewood, Cook County, Illinois.
- What celebrities went to Bernie Mac's funeral? BET reported that actor Don Cheadle, Cedric the Entertainer, and comedian Chris Rock were present.
- Did Bernie Mac have a wife? Rhonda McCullough was his wife.
- What was Bernie Mac's net worth when he died? According to Celebrity Net Worth, he reportedly had a $10 million net worth at his death.
Bernie Mac's cause of death might have generated a scientific debate in the global health industry, but his entertainment legacy still shines. He is remembered as a testament to human strength.
READ ALSO: Did Rhonda McCullough remarry? Facts about Bernie Mac's wife
As published on Briefly.co.za, Bernie Mac and Rhonda McCullough were high school sweethearts. Bernie Mac's widow is also the overseer of the entire Bernie Mac estate and the president of the Bernie Mac Foundation.
The couple stayed married until Bernie Mac died. But afterwards, did McCullough remarry? Discover details about her life after her husband's death.
Source: Briefly News
