Bernie Mac’s sister-in-law spoke to People magazine recently about the late comedian’s final days. As previously reported, Mac passed away due to complications from pneumonia [click to read].
Mary Ann Grosset, the younger sister of the comedian’s wife, Rhonda, said that his final hours were spent with his wife and daughter. “He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She
called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her,” said
Grossett. “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.”
The night before, Grosset said, “He struggled for his life. He
couldn’t breathe,” The next day, doctors “were working
on him. 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.“
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“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,” said
Grossett, who explained that the last communication between Bernie Mac and his wife took place on July 31.
“She’s devastated,” said Grosset of Rhonda. “However, she’s at peace about his transition because
of her faith in God. Her faith is what is sustaining her.“
According to Eurweb.com, some of Bernie Mac’s celebrity friends, co-stars and associates released statements about the comedian:
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Samuel L. Jackson (Co-star in the upcoming film 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 co-starred 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.”
Don Cheadle (Starred with Mac in the Ocean’s Eleven series): “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.“
George Clooney (Starred with Mac in the Ocean’s Eleven series): “The world just got a little less funny. He will be missed dearly.”
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Brad Pitt (Starred with Mac in the Ocean’s Eleven series):
“I lament the loss of a ferociously funny and hardcore family man. My
thoughts are with Rhonda and their family. Bernie Mac, you are already
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.“
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Niecy Nash (Played Mac’s sister on The
Bernie Mac Show): “When I showed up to work, he said something to me
that had never been said to me on a set before. He said, ‘Baby girl,
the script here is not the Bible. Do you, and I’ll follow. I got mine,
you get yours.’ When he said that, I knew everything was going to be
all right. I was happy to have the freedom to make up some funny with
him. It was simply delicious. My working experiences with Bernie were
so amazing, that from that point on, I wouldn’t have cared if he called
me in the middle of the night to come and be in a scene where I didn’t
have anything to do but sit in the background and eat cereal. I
would’ve just done it because I loved him like that.”
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.”
George Lopez: “He was one of those comics
that was unique because of his approach, his look, his voice [and] the
content of his material. Bernie fell into that category of people who
were inherently different like when you saw them, you knew they were
different and when they spoke, you knew they were different. As comics,
we’re all brothers. and I’ll miss him a lot. He was a good friend of
mine.”
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Luke Wilson (Co-star in Charlie’s
Angels: Full Throttle): “He couldn’t have been a nicer
guy. He just seemed like a real family man and just a nice guy on the
set, just very kind of normal guy.”
Carl Reiner (Starred with Mac in the Ocean’s Eleven series): “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.“
Kelly Preston and John Travolta: “We are heartbroken. He will be deeply missed. He was a wonderful, kind and gentle man.“
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Fox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox
Television (Home of The Bernie Mac Show): “Bernie Mac was a
gifted talent whose comedy came from an authentic and highly personal
place. He was a tremendous live performer and a wonderful actor. Fox
was proud to be the home of The Bernie Mac Show, and all of us at Fox
and 20th Century Fox Television extend our deepest sympathies to his
wife, Rhonda, and daughter, JeNiece.“
J.D. Hall (Voice over actor who worked with
Mac on an episode of Moesha): “He was a genuinely funny and nice
guy. I say this because prior to working with him on the show, I had no
knowledge of who he was and how well known of a comedian he was. But,
unlike a lot of people at his level, he was very friendly, down to
earth and accommodating. When our paths accidentally crossed about a
week later at LAX airport, he greeted me as if I had been a life-long
friend and I could feel the genuine warmth and sincerity of that
greeting. May God have mercy on his soul.”
Irene Mama Stokes: “Bernie Mac will be
remembered. I met him on the set of Bébé’s Kids, his words of
encouragement helped me to continue to pursue my career in comedy. His
comedy had an impact on our community and the world. He will truely be
missed.”
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African American Film Critics Association’s
Wilson Morales: “Bernie Mac had the ability to effortlessly make people
laugh. He was an incredible talent with whom my colleagues and I in
AAFCA always looked forward to covering. Bernie had a big heart and he
will certainly be missed by the members of our organization.”
Mac’s funeral is scheduled
for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests
that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40
E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.
Community activist Najee Ali
says a candlelight vigil for Mac, as well as Isaac Hayes, will be held
at 6 p.m. tonight in Los Angeles at 5th Street Dicks coffeehouse in
Leimert Park (4305 Degnan Blvd.)
