Only hours ago reports claimed that Bernie Mac was about to be released from the hospital The reports: Comedian Bernie Mac is making a good recovery from pneumonia and should be released from a Chicago, Ill., hospital within the next few weeks, his representative has confirmed.. Suddenly, the news changed from great to horrible: Bernie Mac's publicist confirmed early Saturday morning that the comedian and actor died at the age of 50 from complications.. The reports this morning pre-death news were chilling:

"News of the ailing actor's illness broke last week, and at one point, his publicist Danica Smith was forced to play down reports Mac's health had rapidly deteriorated, with some rumors claiming he had died. Speaking on Sunday, she insisted, "Bernie Mac is still alive and being treated in a Chicago hospital for pneumonia and is expected to make a full recovery. (He is) responding well to treatment and will be released soon."

Another report this morning claimed that both Bernie Mac and Morgan Freeman were recovering from their medical issues.. But then, in what seems like minutes after the initial dispatches complete with news of good health for Mac, newer bleaker reports became available.. FOX NEWS and FRIENDS first reported the news.. Appearing confused at first, the Saturday morning anchors read from a laptop live on air as they got the AP URGENT alert.. The FOX NEWS alert music sounded. And the rest was history.. Bernie Mac is dead this morning.. No further details are immediately available. His family is asking for privacy .. News trickles .. but in this event, it's a flood of tears for Bernie Mac in many circles of the world.. PHOTO: REUTERS FILE

Labels: Breaking news, Entertainment, Hollywood