Celebrating the magic of our own Leon Rogers, "The Destined Legend," who will receive the 2025 Bernie Mac Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors comedians whose talent, authenticity, and influence carry on the legacy of legendary Chicagoan Bernie Mac, who we lost in 2008 at just 50 years old.
Leon is a celebrated stand-up comedian, actor, morning radio personality on our iHeart sister station WGCI, and one of Chicago’s most influential voices in entertainment.
He began his career as a stand-up comedian in the mid-1990s and has been featured on many comedy programs, including BET’s Comic View, BET’s One Mic Stand, Bad Boys of Comedy, Jamie Foxx’s Laffapalooza, Cedric the Entertainer’s Starting Lineup, and Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes. He hosted his own talk show "Later with Leon" on Fox 32 Chicago, and also has several film credits to his name, including Barbershop and its sequel, plus The Tuskegee Airmen. He's also made appearances in music videos for artists like Ludacris and Ronald Isley and was also a spokesperson for the EA Sports video game, Madden NFL 2009.
Leon's other awards and accolades include winning a top honor at the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Search, being named the Chicago Music Awards' Comedian of the Year twice, and landing a finalist spot in Comedy Central's Laugh Riots competition.
He is a steadfast mentor entrenched in the community, speaking to students, adults, and various organizations across the Chicagoland area throughout the year. His contributions make him a standout example of comedic excellence worthy of the honor that carries Bernie Mac’s name.
Every year, Creative Hustle presents this award each year in collaboration with the Bernie Mac Foundation. Leon will receive his honor at a ceremony on Sunday, January 18th at Alahambra Palace, hosted by Damon Williams, the first award recipient in 2024.
Congratulations, Leon!
& Remember to always celebrate your magic, too! xo