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Saturday, 9 August 2008

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Bernie Mac dies of pneumonia at 50

George Clooney's comedian co-star had been suffering from sarcoidosis disease

Bernie Mac, pictured here with George Clooney, had suffered from sarcoidosis

Bernie Mac has died.

'[He] passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital,' his rep has confirmed. 'No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family's privacy continues to be respected.'

Bernie, who was 50, was admitted to Northwestern Memorial hospital in Chicago on 1 August.

In February 2005, the comedian revealed that for 20 years he had suffered from sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in organs such as the lungs or lymph nodes.

'It has not altered or limited my lifestyle,' he insisted at the time.

Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough in Illionois in October 1957, the talented performer starred with George Clooney in Ocean's Eleven and its sequels and also won acting roles in Charlie's Angels and Transformers.

Bernie married Rhonda McCullough in 1977 and was dad to daughter Je'Niece and grandfather to Je'Neice's daughter Jasmine.