Bernie and Isaac - R.I.P.

What's that saying that things seem to happen in threes?

This weekend's been a shocker in terms of celebrity deaths. Estelle Getty was one thing. She was sick for a very long time and her death was expected. But I totally shocked Saturday to read online that Bernie Mac died. His death was especially shocking to me since he was still relatively young at 50. Apparently he was hospitalized for pneumonia and it looks like complications from that did him in.

I've known him mostly for his work on The Bernie Mac Show. I watched it on and off but was never really hooked on it. I believe his show was released on DVD recently. So I will definitely have to check it out.

Then as if Bernie's death wasn't sad enough, I then read that Isaac Hayes was found dead the next day. Apparently he was found by someone next to his treadmill. His cause of death wasn't determined at the time the article came out.

His lyrics to one of his most infamous songs still gets to me everytime I listen to it:

"If you see me walking down the street,
And I start to cry, each time we meet.
Walk on by, walk on by

Make believe you don't see the tears
Just let me grieve in private
'Cos each time I see you, I break down and cry
Walk on by, walk on by, just walk on by"

Isaac had that quiet storm quality to him. Like Barry White, his low baritone voice could instantly be recognized. He enjoyed later success as "The Chef" on South Park and also guest starred as Toni Child's father in Girlfriends.

Isaac was 65 .

Both men will definitely be missed. I'd like to think that the two of them along with Estelle are cracking jokes in heaven now.