RIP Isaac and Bernie

We lost two giants of entertainment this week. Comedian Bernie Mac passed away on Saturday, August 9, at age 50, due to complications from pneumonia. He first became popular as a stand up comedian in Chicago, and then became nationally known on HBO's Def Comedy Jam. He eventually branched out into movies and television, having memorable roles in Ocean's Eleven and Charlie's Angels, and won an Emmy award in 2002 for outstanding writing for The Bernie Mac Show.

One of his classic stand-up sketches, "My Sister's Kids."


Isaac Hayes is best known for his soul-funk theme to Shaft, and to later generations, as Chef on South Park. He won an Academy Award in 1971 for the theme song to Shaft, and was the first African American to win an Oscar in a non-acting category.

The blogger Any Major Dude With Half a Heart summarizes Hayes' career much better than I ever could. Hayes passed away on Sunday, August 10, at age 65, from an apparent heart attack.