Bernie Mac

Bernie Mac (born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough; 1957–2008) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Raised in Chicago, he gained national attention after winning the Miller Lite Comedy Search and appearing on HBO’s *Def Comedy Jam*. He became widely known for *The Bernie Mac Show* (2001–2006), a sitcom inspired by his stand-up persona, in which he played a version of himself raising his sister’s children. Mac also appeared in major films, including *Ocean’s Eleven* (2001) and its sequels, as well as *Bad Santa* (2003). He died in 2008 at age 50.