Bernie Mac

It’s impossible to talk about the new film Soul Men without recognizing with a pang of sadness that it is one of the last films Bernie Mac completed before his sudden, untimely death in August at the age of 50.

Yesterday, seven thousand mourners packed the Chicago memorial service honoring Bernie Mac.

Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Chris Rock, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and Rev. Jesse Jackson attended the emotional service that was part late-night stand up routine, though the jokes were told with a heavy heart.  Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama and Andy Garcia also sent condolences.

Shocked and saddened by the news of Bernie Mac’s sudden passing at the age of 50 due to complications of pneumonia, Mac’s friends and costars are speaking out in his memory.

“The world just got a little less funny. He will be missed dearly,” says George Clooney who starred with Mac in Ocean’s 11 and its two sequels.

This is absolutely tragic news.

Bernie Mac has died of pneumonia at the age of 50.

The comedian, actor and Peabody winner (for his sitcom The Bernie Mac Show) was hospitalized last week and was reportedly improving until this shocking news was announced. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda McCullough, and their daughter, Je'Niece.

Bernie Mac has been hospitalized for pneumonia near his home in Chicago.

"Mr. Mac is responding well to treatment and will be released soon," his rep said in a statement. "He asked that his privacy and that of his family is respected while he gets well."

The pneumonia is not related to Mac's diagnosis of sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in organs such as the lungs or lymph nodes.