For a brief window of time, Bernie Mac was the star of his own TV show called 'The Bernie Mac Show.' The series was only on the air for five years, but it exceeded 100 episodes, featured a long list of celebrity cameos (including Halle Berry, before she was pulling in millions per appearance), and boosted the career of Bernie's on-screen wife.
But Bernie was already a celebrity in his own right, having worked the stand-up circuit and rubbed elbows with plenty of high-profile comedians before launching his show. At the time of his death, Bernie was actually working on 'Ocean's Twelve' and 'Guess Who,' plus various other projects.
Sadly, Bernie passed away in 2008 after complications from pneumonia due to an underlying health condition called sarcoidosis. But his show did more than confirm Bernie's fame and reputation as a versatile actor. It also helped his on-screen wife progress her career.
Who Was Bernie Mac's Wife?
In real life, Bernie was married to Rhonda McCullough in 1977, and the pair were together until his death. They shared one child, Je'Niece McCullough, who is in her 40s these days.
So what happened to Bernie's real-life wife after his death? She spent some time mourning her high school sweetheart, of course.
But then, Rhonda wound up remarrying three years later. Her new husband, Horace Gilmore, was "God-sent," said Rhonda, because she'd been with Bernie since she was 16 and had no idea how to live life without him.
Meeting and marrying Horace was restorative for Rhonda, but she also spent some time producing a documentary about Bernie. She's still involved with the Bernie Mac Foundation these days, but has clearly moved on with her life in healthy ways.
Which leaves fans to wonder, what happened to Bernie Mac's TV wife?
Who Was Bernie Mac's TV Wife?
The woman who played Bernie Mac's wife on his show was actress Kellita Smith. Though Smith was an actress before joining up on 'The Bernie Mac Show,' her resume wasn't quite as impressive as Mac's. Though she was a model and appeared in multiple magazines pre-acting.
Kellita did appear on 'The Jamie Foxx Show' for a couple of years, in a leading role. But after that, she was on various TV shows for single-episode spots, while filming some movies that weren't necessarily blockbusters.
But after working with Bernie, and earning three award nominations for the role of Wanda McCullough, Kellita's schedule got a little busier.
What Is Kellita Smith Doing Now?
After 'The Bernie Mac Show' ended, Kellita appeared in a couple of films, but then dove back into the TV series 'The First Family.' She played the First Lady for a few years, earning another acting award, and then nabbed another lead role on the series 'Z Nation.'
Now, Kellita is working on 'In the Cut,' which she's been appearing on since 2016. But Kellita's job description also includes comedian, not just sitcom star.
Who Is Kellita Smith Married To?
Interestingly, Kellita Smith has expressed that she may not want to get married. In an interview, she noted that she doesn't necessarily agree with marriage, and her Instagram backs that up.
In one post, Kellita shared (and applauded) an image of a magazine cover featuring Eartha Kitt that stated, "Why Eartha Kit Refuses to Get Married."
That's not to say Kellita isn't interested in having a partner in life, though. She also shares plenty of her thoughts to Instagram, where she says she wants her 'next relationship' to include choreographed couples' dances (or maybe she was just saying she wants to be in sync with her future partner?).
In terms of who she's dating, Kellita doesn't seem to have a special someone right now. Or, at least, not a publicized special someone.
Does Kellita Smith Have Kids?
Though she played Bernie Mac's wife and adoptive mom to his nieces and nephew, in real life, Kellita Smith doesn't appear to have kids. She's pretty tight-lipped about her personal life, but her social media does hint at close relationships with her real-life niece and other family members.
If Smith ever did have children, they've enjoyed a life completely under the radar. But it seems unlikely that Kellita has kids, because she does share quite a bit on social media. Not only that, but she's never taken much of a break from work.
Though she was devastated when Bernie Mac passed away, Kellita has been working non-stop ever since, on TV shows, movies, and more. In fact, IMDb notes that she currently has a TV mini-series in production, but she's also been on BET and appeared on the show 'This Is Us' so far in 2021.
She may owe some credit to Bernie Mac for boosting her reputation as an actress, but Kellita Smith has done well all on her own, too.