Bernie Mac died of cardiac arrest, was with his family at the end

People Magazine has more details about Bernie Mac’s death, and they’re heartbreaking. The 50 year-old comic had been in the hospital since July 24 for treatment for pneumonia. He developed the illness due to a new drug he was on to treat his chronic autoimmune disorder, sarcoidosis. The drug suppressed his immune system, which made him vulnerable and resulted in pneumonia. He was put on a ventilator in the hospital and was unable to talk and had trouble breathing. Mac died in a Chicago hospital on Saturday after his heart failed twice. When his heart failed the first time he was revived by doctors and survived for about an hour until he went into cardiac arrest again and passed. His wife of 31 years and his daughter, Je’Niece, 30, were by his side when he died.

The sad thing is that he was cured of one strain of pneumonia but developed another strain in the hospital. He was unable to speak during his hospitalization, but did communicate nonverbally with his wife.

Speaking of a heartbreaking moment between her younger sister, Rhonda, and the 50-year-old actor-comedian – who succumbed to complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday – Mary Ann Grossett says that the night before Mac died, “He struggled for his life. He couldn’t breathe.

“He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, ‘Don’t leave me … ‘I’m waiting for you to come back.’ He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that’s when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired.”

Rhonda, Mac’s wife since 1977, and their 30-year-old daughter, Je’Niece, 30, were with him when he died. “[The doctors] were working on him,” says Grossett. “They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time.”

Prior to that, the couple had last communicated on July 31. “He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out,” says Grossett.

Lung Disease Contributed
The sister-in-law says Mac’s inflammatory lung disease contributed to his death. “He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission,” she says. “But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection … He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that’s where the pneumonia came from.”

She reveals that Mac – having trouble breathing and running a fever – was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator.

“He was critically ill when he was in the hospital,” says Gossett. “He was in intensive care the whole time.”

She adds that doctors kept the star sedated, although he was conscious at times and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.

[From People.com]

People has more quotes from Mac’s sister in law, Mary Ann Grossett, and she says her sister met the funnyman when they were both just teens and that he told her “Girl, you better come on board this train, because I’m going to be rich.” Mary Ann says that her sister Rhonda will get through the incredible loss of her husband of over 30 years through her faith in God. She said “Not only was she his wife, but she was his best friend. She’s going to miss him dearly.”

Mac’s friends and co-stars have given their respects and regrets at his untimely death. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Chris Rock are among the celebrities who have issued statements. I especially like Carl Reiner’s description of how Mac used to cook for his co-workers on the Oceans films.

Brad Pitt: “I lament the loss of a ferociously funny and hardcore family man. My thoughts are with [his wife] Rhonda and their family. Bernie Mac, you are already missed.”

George Clooney: “The world just got a little less funny. He will be dearly missed.”

Chris Rock: “Bernie Mac was one of the best and funniest comedians to ever live, but that was the second best thing he did. Bernie was one of the greatest friends a person could have. Losing him is like losing 12 people because he absolutely filled up any room he was in. I’m gonna miss the Mac Man.”

Cedric the Entertainer: “It’s hard to put into words just how I feel and what a painful loss this is. Bernie was a brother, a friend and one of the comic masters of our time. Sharing the marquee with him during the phenomenon of the Kings of Comedy tour bonded us like family, and created a unique moment in comic history marking some of the most meaningful, memorable and fun times of our lives. His comedic approach was his own brand and will definitely stand the test of time. The level of his talent always inspired me and other comedians to ‘bring their A-game.’ I promise you that you never wanted to be the guy who had to follow Bernie’s set! As a husband and father, he was THE MAN and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will truly be missed, but so well remembered.”

Don Cheadle: “This is a very sad day for many of us who knew and loved Bernie. He brought so much joy to so many. He will be missed, but heaven just got funnier.”

Ocean’s Eleven costar Carl Reiner: “It’s a tremendous loss because of his age and the fact that he was such a vital, original human being. When I use the word ‘original’ I really mean it. He was like no other person I knew. He lived his life to the fullest, even when we were on the set of Ocean’s. He had his own little apartment and he cooked and invited people to lunch every day and he had food that was for everybody. He made very exotic things. His conversations were always different than any conversations I had with anyone else. They were very family-oriented; he talked about his wife and children with such love and it’s very hard to believe that he’s not with us anymore.”

Actress/comedienne Niecy Nash, who played Mac’s little sister on the hit television series The Bernie Mac Show and acted opposite him in the 2005 film Guess Who, said this about her friend and mentor: “His passing is such a major loss to the acting and comedy communities. Bernie Mac was the personification of the word ‘real.’ He kept it real. That kind of genuine spirit that he carried all the time cannot be easily duplicated, but I will do my very best to try.”

Jenifer Lewis: ”Bernie’s style of comedy was bold, courageous and revolutionary—I never knew anyone who loved to be funny as much as Bernie. He will most definitely be very missed.”

Samuel L. Jackson, Mac’s costar in the November 2008 flick Soul Men: “It goes without saying that Bernie was one of the preeminent comedians of our generation. He was also an attentive husband, a great father and loving grandfather. I feel blessed to have shared years of friendship with Bernie Mac and I’m honored to have finally costarred with him in what I consider to be his finest cinematic acting achievement. My sincere prayer is that his family will be comforted by the warmth of love from all of us who knew and respected this man.”

[From E! Online]

Bernie Mac was an incredibly talented and funny guy who cherished his family and worked hard for his success. He will be greatly missed.

Here’s Bernie Mac in the Kings of Comedy talking about how it’s a bother to have sex. This has a lot of f-bombs and adult content and is NSFW or for kids, but it’s damn funny:

Here are file photos of Bernie, thanks to PRPhotos.

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