The most unfortunate irony of all ironies is that no less than 30 minutes ago I was watching Ocean’s Thirteen for the second time, just marveling at what a wonderful cast of faces and personalities Stephen Soderbergh had managed to put together for his trilogy.

And then I come home and I have to report on this news which has come to a shock to me, a real, real shock.

BBC report that actor/comedian and all round likeable on screen personality Bernie Mac has died aged 50. It’s said he was hospitalized last week for Pneumonia and sadly it proved to be fatal earlier today.

Born in 1957 as Bernard Jeffrey McCullough in Chicago, Illinois - Mac was brought up in relative poverty, a popular notion (which is attributed to his uncle) is that he once lived in a two bedroom apartment with nine other people.

His childhood inspiration was comedian Bill Cosby and with such a great icon to look up to, it only took him to the age of 20 before he was a regular at Chicago’s Cotton Club even if the money was enough to keep him living. He worked as a janitor, furniture mover, appliance hauler, and delivery man so he could still perform at nights and have a roof on his head when he came home

It will indeed be the Ocean’s movies that should cement the actor in our memories. His memorable performance as Frank Cotton, the character who undoubtedly seemed to have the most fun in all three movies with the biggest and happiest grin of the group will surely be missed by all.

His other film roles included a substantial part in Charlie’s Angel’s: Full Throttle, Bad Santa and as the lead in the truly awful Guess Who.

We should not forget either that head ran his own very successful t.v. sitcom, The Bernie Mac Show which screened over 100 episodes from 2001 to 2006 and put him firmly in the Hollywood eye having received two Emmy Award nominations

The sad thing is, his movie career was just really starting. The exposure from the Ocean’s movies got him a big cameo almost playing himself in one of the biggest movies of 2007 - Transformers and it looked like he was never going to struggle for roles again.

It was only a few weeks ago we spoke about the really cool looking upcoming movie Soul Men, where Mac and Samuel L. Jackson play a bickering pair of backup soul singers who decide to take a road trip together for a tribute concert to a former fallen friend.

That movie is out in November and it was a movie I was really looking forward too, imagining what great chemistry Mac and Jackson would share.

Before he died, Mac had just completed a big role in Old Dogs - the upcoming John Travolta/Robin Williams/Matt Dillon/Kelly Preston comedy which will open next June and officially be Mac’s last movie.

Many of the tight group of friends known as the Ocean’s team, quickly sent out their condolences and expressed their sadness at the news…

“The world just got a little less funny,”

George Clooney.

“He was just so alive. I can’t believe he’s gone,”

Carl Reiner, veteran actor who played Saul Bloom.

“This is a very sad day for many of us who knew and loved Bernie. He brought so much joy to so many. He will be missed, but heaven just got funnier.”

Don Cheadle.

BERNIE MAC ON CHARLIE ROSE (last interview of that episode)

BERNIE MAC’S STAND-UP

BERNIE MAC’S STAND-UP 2

BERNIE MAC ON TRAVIS SMILEY

BERNIE MAC DIES