He developed sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation in the lungs. However, soon after the series ended, Mac's health took a turn for the worse.
However his biggest success was The Bernie Mac Show (2001), which debuted in 2001 to instant acclaim.
In 2001 he played Martin Lawrence's uncle in What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) and later that year, was in the star studded remake of Ocean's Eleven (2001). This performance made him more of a household name, and led to many more major parts. He was a featured comedian in The Original Kings of Comedy (2000). The new century started a new era for the brash Chicago comedian. In 1999 Bernie Mac got his most high profile part up to that point in the film Life (1999) starring Eddie Murphy. His next couple of movie parts were more substantial, including How to Be a Player (1997) and The Players Club (1998). Bernie Mac's star was slowly rising from this point. About this time he had a recurring role in the TV series Moesha (1996). he starred in the memorable Spike Lee movie Get on the Bus (1996), and was very funny in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996). Bernie Mac developed a cult following due to the film. He did an HBO Special called Midnight Mac (1995), and took a part as Pastor Clever in the Chris Tucker comedy Friday (1995). 1995 proved to be a turning point in his career. This started a plethora of small parts in a string of movies, mostly comedies, including Who's the Man? (1993), House Party 3 (1994) and The Walking Dead (1995). In 1992 he made his film debut with a small part with Mo' Money (1992). He refused to change his image for television and films, and therefore was not very well known for most of the eighties. He became a professional comedian in 1977, at the age of 19.
Mac worked in the Regal Theater, and performed in Chicago parks in his younger days. This situation provided him with a great insight into his comedy, as his family, and the situations surrounding them would be what dominated his comedy. He grew up in the city, in a rougher neighborhood than most others, with a large family living under one roof. Bernard Jeffrey McCollough was born in 1957 in Chicago, the son of Mary McCullough and Jeffery Harrison.
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