Family, friends and fans gathered at House of Hope church on Saturday (Aug. 16) to bid farewell to actor/comedian Bernie Mac.
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Among the more than 6,000 thousand people that gathered to mourn the comedian’s passing was Chicago mayor Richard Daley, who praised Mr. Mac for his commitment to his hometown, “He wanted to help get children away from a life of crime and violence. That’s why he’s the king of comedy. He never lost his soul in Chicago.”
Samuel L. Jackson, who stars along side Mr. Mac in the upcoming film “Soul Men,” also shared his memories of Mr. Mac with those gathered at the South Side Chicago church to pay their respects. He said of Mr. Mac, “[He] was always that kid from Chicago who wanted to make everybody laugh… He never turned down that kid for an autograph.”
Fellow comics Steve Harvey, Cedric The Entertainer and D.L. Hughley, who co-starred with Mr. Mac in the stand-up comedy film, “The Original Kings of Comedy,” also addressed the crowd.
And presidential hopeful Barack Obama sent a letter of condolence
which was read to the mourners at the service.
Bernie Mac dead on August 9 of pneumonia. He was 50 years old.
