Bernie Mac
A comedian with a blisteringly honest, no-nonsense style who turned his tough Chicago upbringing into universal comedy about family and frustration.
1957–2008 (age 51)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: October 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Bernie Mac emerged from the housing projects of Chicago's South Side with a voice that was unapologetically loud, proud, and raw. His comedy wasn't just observational; it was confrontational, delivered with a signature scowl and a finger-pointing directness that dared you not to laugh. He honed his craft on the tough circuit of Def Comedy Jam, where his fearless, adult-themed sets made him a standout. His big break came with the groundbreaking concert film 'The Original Kings of Comedy,' which showcased his masterful storytelling about his fictional nephew Jordan and the trials of family life. This led to the critically acclaimed sitcom 'The Bernie Mac Show,' which brilliantly translated his exasperated persona into a heartfelt, innovative series about parenting. While he found Hollywood success in films like the 'Ocean's' trilogy, he never softened his core, remaining the defiant, truth-telling comic who spoke directly from the struggles and triumphs of Black American life.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Bernie was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bernie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Bernie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2008Died at 51
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Key Achievements
- Starred in and produced the semi-autobiographical Fox sitcom 'The Bernie Mac Show,' which earned him a Peabody Award and two Primetime Emmy nominations.
- Was a central figure in the landmark concert film 'The Original Kings of Comedy,' which became one of the highest-grossing stand-up films of all time.
- Played the memorable role of Frank Catton in Steven Soderbergh's popular 'Ocean's Eleven' trilogy alongside an ensemble of major stars.
- Won a Grammy Award in 2001 for Best Spoken Comedy Album for his work 'The Original Kings of Comedy' soundtrack.
Did You Know?
He was a huge fan of the Chicago White Sox and threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, which the Sox won.
His comedy routine about his fictional nephew 'Jordan' was based on a composite of real children he helped raise from his extended family.
He turned down a role in 'The Princess Diaries' to star in the film 'Head of State' with Chris Rock.
Mac suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease, but kept his condition private from the public for many years.
“I ain't scared of you motherf***ers!”
