Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes and Samuel L Jackson in a still from Soul Men, which is due out next year
Co-stars Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, who passed away the same weekend, were both honored in separate memorial services this weekend attended by family, friends, and a multitude of celebrities. Singer Isaac Hayes was remembered in a public service in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday, where a wide array of celebs were in attendance, from Jesse Jackson, who knew Hayes through his civil rights activism, to fellow Scientologist Kelly Preston. There was also a private service on Sunday, which was attended by Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise.

The weight of soul singer Isaac Hayes’ legacy in Memphis could be measured in a single remark at his memorial service Monday.

“What would you say if you were flying into Memphis and they said you are about to land at Isaac Hayes International Airport,” U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen asked, drawing a huge burst of applause during a four-hour service of music, speakers and video clips.

Cohen, who represented Hayes’ area of Memphis, said the city should celebrate Hayes, an architect of the Memphis sound, as it celebrates Elvis Presley.

“He is a world person who the world will miss,” Cohen said.

The deep-voiced soul singer died Aug. 10 after he was found unconscious at his Memphis residence. No autopsy was performed, but paperwork filed by Hayes’ family doctor, David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke.

About 3,000 fans and friends attended the service. They remembered Hayes for his music and his movies and for his humanitarian work that included building a school in Ghana.

“He was a lovely man, always involved with causes,” the Rev. Jesse Jackson said before the service. “Literacy, civil rights. He was always there, and that’s why we’re all here for him.”

Jackson was among the speakers that included Al Sharpton and actresses and fellow scientologists Anne Archer and Kelly Preston.

From the Huffington Post

Meanwhile, movie and TV actor/stand-up comedian Bernie Mac’s memorial service in Chicago brought thousands of fans, friends and co-stars as well. Jesse Jackson must be racking up the frequent flyer miles, because he attended this service, too. Other mourners included Chris Rock and Cedric the Entertainer, who was reportedly inconsolable at the loss of his Kings of Comedy comrade.

Thousands of mourners came out for a Chicago memorial service honoring Bernie Mac Saturday.

Some fans slept outside overnight in hopes of securing a seat inside the House of Hope church on the city’s South Side, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chris Rock, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and Rev. Jesse Jackson attended the emotional service, in which photos from the comedian’s career were shown on projectors and the White Sox organization presented Mac’s widow Rhonda with a No. 1 jersey bearing his name, the paper reports.

Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama and Andy Garcia also sent condolences.

During the service, Mayor Richard Daley remembered Mac as someone with “a heart and passion.” Daley, who met with Mac a few weeks ago, added: “He knew the street, he knew the people, and that’s why he was a king of comedy. He wanted to do something personally to get children away from the life of violence. . . . He never lost his soul in Chicago.”

[From People]

Best wishes go out to both men and their surviving families. They will certainly be missed.

Soul Men features Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson
Isaac Hayes’ cause of death has been released, after he was found lying next to a treadmill. He died from a stroke.

The deep-voiced soul singer died on Sunday after he was found unconscious at his Memphis residence. No autopsy was performed, but paperwork filed by Hayes’ family physician, Dr. David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke, sheriff’s spokesman Steve Shular said.

Deputies were among the emergency crews that responded, and sheriff’s department detectives were looking into the death. Kraus told investigators that he had been treating Hayes, 65, for high blood pressure, Shular said.

Family members found Hayes lying on the floor of his home beside a treadmill that was still switched on.

AP via New Zealand Herald

This makes me sad all over again, that he was obviously trying to improve his health by using a treadmill and seeing a doctor for blood pressure, and it was too late.

An idea I rather like, some websites are suggesting that Dimension are considering putting back the release of Soul Men, as the storyline deals with death and the film features both Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac.

Warning: plot details, potential spoilers for Soul Men ahead

Death is a big subject in the film. The entire plot of the movie revolves around Mac and Jackson eulogizing the death of their friend with music, only now two members of the film’s actual cast really are dead. Three days ago it sounded like a fantastic idea for a film, especially in light of the way Sam Jackson belted out blues tunes in Black Snake Moan. Now, it seems almost too sad to watch. Buying a ticket to Soul Men could end up feeling like you’re purchasing a seat at someone’s funeral.

The movie doesn’t open until November 14th, so that does give the world a little time to grieve for its tragically departed stars. Still, don’t be surprised if Dimension Films decides to delay it a little more, maybe even until next year. November 14th may be too soon, particularly in light of the subject matter.

Cinema Blend

It is so great that the movie will be put back instead of any attempt to cash in on the death of the actors. Particularly in the case of Hayes who is playing himself. This is a very kind and human thing to do, since releasing the film right after the deaths of the actors could generate more ticket sales. Even if it isn’t good business.

This weekend just sucks. First Bernie Mac and now Isaac Hayes. The 65 year-old soul singer and former South Park actor died today at the age of 65. His wife found him by a treadmill in their home in Memphis early this morning. He was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead at 2:08 am. More details are not yet known.

Musician Isaac Hayes — who wrote the theme song for “Shaft” — died early this morning in a Memphis hospital.

According to WMC, a Shelby County sheriff’s deputy responded to call from Hayes’ wife after she found him on the floor near a treadmill inside their home.

Hayes was taken to Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, and was pronounced dead at 2:08 AM.

[From TMZ]

Hayes was one of the most influential soul artists. His second album, 1967’s Hot Buttered Soul went multi platinum. He earned three Grammy Awards during his career and an Oscar for best original song for the Theme from Shaft.

From the late 1990s to 2006, Hayes played the oversexed smooth-talking animated character Chef on South Park. Hayes was a Scientologist and cited religious intolerance on South Park’s “Out of the Closet” Tom Cruise parody as his reason for leaving the show in 2006.

He is survived by 12 children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His youngest child is a two year old son, Nana Kwadjo Hayes, with his fourth wife, Adjowa.

RIP Isaac Hayes, you will be missed.

Here’s the theme from Shaft.

File photos from PRPhotos.

Isaac Hayes’ camp has responded to the allegations that the Scientologists faxed in Hayes’ resignation from South Park when he was laid up from a stroke. They say that Hayes only had high blood pressure, and that he was the one who decided to quit. It may be true that Hayes’ medical condition was not that serious, but we doubt Hayes was the one to quit. He is said to have loved his job. E! News also notes that this seems uncharacteristic of Hayes, who said that everyone is fair game on South Park and that he didn’t think people should be offended by it:

No matter what happened, Hayes is never going to talk. Scientologists gather personal secrets about converts in the early stages of indoctrination in a process called “auditing.” Eliciting confessions is a common practice of cults and gives them leverage if a member criticizes their practices or tries to leave the fold.

John Travolta and Tom Cruise are said to have gay experiences in their past that would be released by the Scientologists if they ever attempted to leave. Indeed, Scientology is known for releasing personal information and often hires private detectives to dig up information on critics.

Hayes did not admit to seeing the popular South Park episode that depicts the death of his character, Chef. He is said to have “left it behind him” and is now looking forward to the upcoming birth of a baby with his fourth wife.