‘Working as Hard as Possible Knowing That the End was Coming’: Bernie Mac’s Daughter Exposes the Painful Secret the Comedian Hid While Filming ‘Soul Men’ with Samuel L. Jackson

A new docuseries about the impact of Black comedians is shedding light on the final years of Bernie Mac’s life. “Black Comedy in America” is a 10-episode show premiering on VICE on Oct. 15. The series is hosted by Tiffany Haddish, veteran comic and writer Chris Spencer, and Ryan Davis, and will feature a number of prominent comics. Topics will range from ’70s Black sitcoms, the genre’s Chitlin’ Circuit foundation, its trailblazers, and much more. Mac is revered as being among the greats of comedy. He passed away at the age of 50 on Aug. 9, 2008. Bernie Mac’s daughter reveals her father suffered during his final moments of life. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images) His death was attributed to complications of pneumonia. He had been hospitalized for weeks when he died in his hometown of Chicago. But, as many fans learned when his transition was announced, Mac lived with the inflammatory disease sarcoidosis. The condition causes growths in organs. In the case of Mac, his lungs and immune system were heavily impacted. In his absence, his daughter Je’Niece McCullough spoke with Haddish about her father’s legacy for “Black Comedy in America.” Part of their conversation was revealed...