BERNIE MAC

The 50-year-old passed away on Saturday (09Aug08) morning at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

News of the actor's illness emerged last week (01Aug08), but his publicist Danica Smith released a number of statements earlier this week (begs04Aug08) playing down reports of Mac's deteriorating health.

On Thursday (07Aug08), Smith said Mac was "in a stable condition" and was "responding well to treatment". She even went as far to predict he will be released from hospital within a matter of weeks.

But the star died on Saturday after experiencing complications from the condition, reports TMZ.com.

His representative says, "Actor/ comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital. No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family's privacy continues to be respected."

Source: WENN