How Did Bernie Mac Slip Away?

From Aaliyah to Tillman to Russert, they had more to offer

(NEWSER) - In looking back at the '00s, the sad tales of luminaries who died too young stand out. Newsweek asked friends and admirers for their reflections:

• Randy Pausch, d. 2008: "Despite it all," JJ Abrams writes, the "Last Lecture" professor "was radiant, kind, and good-humored."
• Tim Russert, d. 2008: "There aren’t many shining examples these days—of anything," Brian Williams writes. "Tim was one."
• Bernie Mac, d. 2008: The comedian's appeal was universal, McG writes. "A little white kid or a middle-aged black guy: everyone loved Bernie Mac."

'I choose not only how I will live, but if I will live'

(NEWSER) - When writer Catherine Royce became an ALS patient, she shared with NPR her passionate belief that she should be able to meet her decline and eventual death on her own terms. "Every day, I choose not only how I will live, but if I will live," she said 2 1/2 years ago. By last month, she had lost the ability to walk, type, and feed herself—but not the power of choice. Royce picked a date to have her life-support system turned down while her family stood by her. More»

Report that CEO had heart attack is false, company says

(NEWSER) - Apple again today was forced to quash rumors about the health of CEO Steve Jobs, refuting a report that the CEO had suffered a “major heart attack,” Bloomberg reports. Shares fell as much as 5.4% following a post on CNN’s citizen-journalist iReport site, but have since rebounded. Jobs’ health has been an issue since a bout with pancreatic cancer in 2004. More»

Friends lament comedian's loss

(NEWSER) - Hollywood has woken up to a world without Bernie Mac, who died early today from complications of pneumonia. Here’s what the stars who knew him are saying, reports E!:

• George Clooney: “The world just got a little less funny. He will be missed dearly.”
• Chris Rock: “Losing him is like losing 12 people because he absolutely filled up any room he was in. I'm gonna miss the Mac Man.”

Immune disorder could be behind comedian's hospitalization

(NEWSER) - Bernie Mac is in the hospital, and although his publicists deny it, the pneumonia for which the comedian's being treated may have something to do with sarcoidosis, the Chicago Tribune reports. The rare immune system disorder has been in remission since 2005. More»