Clooney and Pitt lead tributes to Ocean's co-star Bernie Mac after shock death at 50

George Clooney and Brad Pitt have paid tribute to their Ocean's trilogy co-star Bernie Mac, after his death on Saturday.

The actor and comedian died from complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital on Saturday morning. He was 50.

The award-winning actor was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with pneumonia on August 1st, but his publicist issued a statement saying he was expected to recover.

Following Mac's sudden death, his Ocean's castmates have expressed their grief for the talented comedian.

Clooney said: ''The world just got a little less funny. He will be dearly missed.'

Pitt added: 'I lament the loss of a ferociously funny and hardcore family man. My thoughts are with Rhonda and their family. Bernie Mac, you are already missed.'

Don Cheadle, who also starred in the Ocean's trilogy, lamented: '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.'

Samuel L Jackson, whose film Soul Men alongside Mac is set to be released later this year, said: 'It goes without saying that Bernie was one of the pre-eminent comedians of our generation.

'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.'

Tributes: Mac's Ocean's trilogy co-stars George Clooney (L) and Brad Pitt (R) paid tribute to the 'ferociously funny' comedian

Mac, real name Bernard McCullough, suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005.

His publicist said his death was not linked with the disease.

Publicist Danica Smith said in a statement: 'Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital.'

She said that no other information was available and asked that his family's privacy be respected.

Mac was recently heckled on stage when he made a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoman Barrack Obama.

His jokes about the menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity - which featured crude language - did not go down well with Obama's campaign, which rebuked him.

Mac once said in 2002: 'Wherever I am, I have to play. I have to put on a good show.'

Tragic: Bernie Mac is survived by his wife of 31 years Rhonda McCulloch

He took his act to Chicago comedy clubs in 1977, aged 20, and his film career began with a small part in the Damon Wayans film Mo Money in 1992.

He went on to star in the Ocean's film franchise and with Ashton Kutcher in the 2005 film Guess Who - a remake of the Sidney Poitier film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Mac also appeared in Bad Santa, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Transformers as well as starring in his own Fox television series The Bernie Mac Show, which ran 100 episodes between 2001 and 2006.

In 2007 Mac told the TV hos David Letterman that he planned to retire soon, adding: 'I'm going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit.

Tributes: Bernie Mac's Ocean's Thirteen castmates George Clooney and Don Cheadle, pictured alongside Elliott Gould in a scene from the movie, have paid tribute to the comedian

'I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977.'

Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago, he grew up on the city's South Side, living with his mother and grandparents. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist church.

In his 2004 book Maybe You Never Cry Again Mac wrote about having a poor, strict and no-nonsense upbringing.

Mac's mother died of cancer when he was 16.

Mac is survived by his wife of 31 years Rhonda McCulloch, 29-year-old daughter Je'Niece and a granddaughter Jasmine.

Screen star: Mac playing Bosley in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle alongside Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore in 2003

Funnyman: Mac played an overprotective father alongside Ashton Kutcher in comedy Guess Who in 2005