Bernie Mac was born in Chicago in 1958, Bernard Jeffrey McCollough. He grew up in Chicago, in a rougher neighborhood than most others, with a large family living under one roof. This situation provided him with a great insight into his comedy, as his family, and the situations surrounding them would be what dominated his comedy. Mac worked in the Regal Theater, and performed in Chicago parks in his younger days. He became a professional comedian in 1977, at the age of 19. He refused to change his image for Television and films, and therefore was not very well known for most of the eighties. In 1992 he made his film debut in a small part with Mo' Money. This started a string of small parts in a string of movies, mostly comedies, including Who's the Man?, House Party 3 and The Walking Dead. 1995 proved to be a turning point in his career. He did an HBO Special called Midnight Mac, and took a part as Pastor Clever in the Chris Tucker comedy Friday. Bernie Mac developed a cult following due to the movie and had many small parts since. In 1996 he starred in the memorable Spike Lee movie Get on the Bus, and was very funny in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. About this time he had a recurring role in the TV series Moesha. Bernie Mac's star was slowly rising from this point. His next couple of movie parts were more substantial, including How to Be a Player and _Players Club, The (1998/I)_ . In 1999 Bernie Mac got his most high profile part up to that point in the film _Life (1999)_ , with Eddie Murphy.

The new century started a new era for the brash Chicago comedian. He was a featured comedian in The Original Kings of Comedy. This performance made him more of a household name, and led to many more major parts. In 2001 he played Martin Lawrence's Uncle in What's the Worst That Could Happen? and later that year he was in the star studded remake of Ocean's Eleven. However his biggest success to this date has been The Bernie Mac Show, which debuted in 2001 and was an instant success.

Bernie Mac is a comedian that refused to change his image for Hollywood and says that his life in Chicago is who he is and there is nothing that will change that. While success was a long time coming he is now a household name. He is looked at as a mature comedian, that is very intelligent and very engaging in his TV, movie and stand-up appearances.
His first professional comedy gig was at The Cotton Club in Chicago. He was so broke, he had to borrow a suit from his brother. Started his career in stand-up comedy in 1977 His mother died during his sophomore year of high school to breast cancer His daughter, Je'Niece, is now 27 years old and has a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling and has been married for 3 years. His mother and two only brothers have passed away He used to be a boxer His character on The Bernie Mac Show, was ranked #47 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue]. Is mentioned in Christina Aguilera's single "Dirrty" February 2005 - revealed that has suffered from sarcoidosis, a tissue inflammation disease, since 1983. He says it has no effect on his daily life. Gets a pedicure in Ocean's Twelve and Bad Santa. Is a Chicago White Sox fan