This weekend we lost two wonderful entertainers of our generation- Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. On Saturday, August 9th, Mac died of complications from pneumonia in a Chicago-area hospital. He was 50. Today, August 10th, Hayes died after he was found unconscious in his Memphis home next to a still-running treadmill. He was 65.
I remember Bernie Mac in the early 90s as a frequent performer on Def Comedy Jam and in films like Mo’ Money, Friday, and even House Party 3. Let’s not forget Spike Lee’s Original Kings of Comedy film in 2000, which is an instant classic. Then in 2001, the Bernie Mac Show really put him on the map. I really loved that show. Bernie delivered raw no nonsense humor and honesty on family upbringing- especially when he’s looking at the camera (“America… “). Aside from the laughs, the show had plenty of heart. Though I miss the Bernie Mac show dearly, I enjoyed watching Mac in later films like Ocean’s Eleven, Bad Santa, Mr. 3000, Guess Who, and most recently Transformers.
If you’re old school like me, the first thing that comes to mind when you mention Isaac Hayes- Theme from Shaft. For the new school, you might think of Shaft as well, but you’ll most likely remember Jerome “Chef” McElroy from South Park (“Hello there, children!”). A soul man and a ladies’ man, Hayes had memorable hits like Never Gonna Give You Up and Never Can Say Goodbye. As Chef, he had even more memorable hits like Chocolate Salty Balls. Yes, I said Chocolate Salty Balls. Though it was unfortuante Hayes quit South Park in 2006, Hayes remained an entertainer. Sad to say, prior to his death, Hayes was planning on recording a new album with his longtime label Stax Records.
On Mac’s death, actor Don Cheadle (Ocean’s Eleven) was quoted, “… heaven just got funnier.” No doubt about that. I’d like to add that, today, heaven just got a little more soulful. We will miss you both, Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.
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