Comedian Bernie Mac Admitted to Chicago Hospital With Pneumonia

Hollywood actor and comedian Bernie Mac has been hospitalized for pneumonia in Chicago, his publicist, Danica Smith, confirmed Friday. However, Smith insisted the 50-year-old Ocean's Eleven star is doing well, and is expected to be released soon.

The comedian/actor is suffering from sarcoidosis, a tissue inflammation, for the past 20 years, but publicist Smith said in a statement that Ocean's Eleven star is already beating the fatal illness, and the bout of pneumonia is not related to tissue inflammation disease sarcoidosis.

Smith did not know what day Mac was admitted to hospital, but confirmed his wife, Rhonda McCullough, has been with him at the hospital.

"Mr. Mac is responding well to treatment and will be released soon," Smith said in a statement. "He asked that his privacy and that of his family is respected while he gets well. He's doing great and hopes to get out soon. He's Bernie - he's one of the best guys you'll meet."

Born Bernard Jeffrey McCollough in Chicago, IL, in 1958, Mac started as a stand-up comedian in Chicago's Cotton Club, and skyrocketed to comedy fame with his memorably side-splitting appearance in Spike Lee's The Original Kings of Comedy.

The two time Emmy Award-nominated American actor and comedian’s long list of television and film credits include "The Bernie Mac Show," "Ocean's 11," "Transformers" and "Charlie's Angel: Full Throttle." He also had a short-lived talk show on HBO titled “Midnight Mac”.

Mac is number 72 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest stand-ups of all time. Mac has been married to Rhonda since 1977. They have one daughter, Je'Niece, and a granddaughter, Jasmine. Born in 1978, Je'Niece has a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling and has been married for three years.