The red carpet will be a lonely place for Samuel L. Jackson at the premiere of Soul Men - not one, but two of his co-stars have passed this weekend.
Saturday saw the death of Bernie Mac; 50-year-old comedian who's most famed for starring alongside Brad Pitt and George Clooney in Ocean's Eleven; the latter of which said: "The world just got a little less funny. He will be missed dearly." Mac, who was christened Bernard McCullough, had been suffering sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease which affects the immune system). His rep said: "He passed away... from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital. The comedian also starred in such films as Transformers, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and had his own Fox TV show.
His Soul Men co-star, Jackson, said: "He was also an attentive husband, a great father and loving grandfather. I feel blessed to have shared years of friendship with Bernie Mac, and I'm honoured to have finally co-starred with him in what I consider to be his finest cinematic acting achievement."
This morning, news comes to us that another Soul Men cast member, the imitable Isaac Hayes (who appears as himself in the film), has also passed away. He was 65. The musician was found unconscious by his wife "beside a still-running treadmill." Hayes is revered for his Oscar-winning theme tune to 1971 movie Shaft, and for co-writing classic song Soul Man which appeared in cult film The Blues Brothers. Hayes then went on to star as the voice of Chef in South Park, releasing such ditties as Chocolate Salty Balls, which reached No.1 in the U.K.
