Bernie Mac's Real Name: Bernard Jeffrey McCullough

Quick answer: The comedian and actor is known professionally as Bernie Mac. Britannica and Biography.com independently give the original name Bernard Jeffrey McCullough and date his birth to October 5, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois. Both date his death to August 9, 2008.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers support the documented original name Bernard Jeffrey McCullough. Britannica gives that name as his byname source, dates the birth to October 5, 1957, in Chicago, and says he grew up on the city's South Side, the second child of Mary McCullough and Bernard Jeffrey Harrison, and later adopted the stage name Bernie Mac. Biography.com independently gives Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, the same date, and Chicago, Illinois, and also describes a South Side upbringing in a large family whose grandfather was a Baptist-church deacon. Britannica says he began by telling jokes in his neighborhood and later performed stand-up on Chicago's subway for spare change before moving into the city's club circuit. Biography.com independently says he began telling jokes for spare change in the Chicago subway and joined the comedy club circuit in 1977.

Career highlights

Britannica says his career accelerated after a national comedy search in 1990, with later appearances on Def Comedy Jam, a role on Moesha beginning in 1996, and the Kings of Comedy tour, filmed by Spike Lee as The Original Kings of Comedy (2000). Biography.com independently records Def Comedy Jam appearances, Moesha, and The Original Kings of Comedy. Britannica dates The Bernie Mac Show to 2001–06 and records two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for his work as Uncle Bernie. Biography.com independently says the Fox series debuted in 2001, ran through 2006, and received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Britannica also lists Ocean's Eleven (2001), in which he played blackjack dealer Frank Catton, later sequels, and the memoirs I Ain't Scared of You and Maybe You Never Cry Again (2003). Biography.com independently names those films and the 2001 and 2003 books, and also lists Friday (1995) and the later starring role in Mr. 3000 (2004). Britannica independently records Friday and Mr. 3000 as well.

Death

Britannica says he died on August 9, 2008, in Chicago, from complications from pneumonia, at age 50, after being hospitalized in July 2008. Biography.com independently says he died of pneumonia on August 9, 2008.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Bernie Mac or Bernard Jeffrey McCullough are looking for the same comedian. Britannica and Biography.com support the original name used in the title.