Bob Mackie, Master of Hollywood Glamour, Dies at 87

Bob Mackie, the celebrated American fashion and costume designer known as the “Sultan of Sequins,” has died aged 87. His death was announced on Instagram by a representative, who praised his long career and said his designs would continue to bring beauty to the world. Mackie won a Tony Award, nine Emmy Awards and received three Oscar nominations. Mackie was especially influential in the public image of Cher. He designed the dramatic Mohawk costume she wore to the 1986 Oscars, an outfit featuring a feathered headdress and exposed midriff. Cher later described it as a “revenge” outfit because she had not received an expected nomination for the film Mask. The costume became one of the most memorable and provocative looks in awards-show history, and Mackie’s designs also helped establish Cher’s famously daring style. His other major clients included Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand and Pink. For Elton John, Mackie created the rhinestone-covered Dodgers baseball costume worn during the singer’s 1975 performances at Dodger Stadium. Pink praised Mackie as loving, funny and a genius, while Elton John called his costumes works of art. Mackie continued designing into his eighties. Recent clients included Sabrina Carpenter and Miley Cyrus, who wore one of his creations during her 2024 Grammy Awards performance. His career began as a sketch artist for Jean Louis, and one of his early assignments involved drawing the dress Marilyn Monroe wore while singing “Happy Birthday” to President John F Kennedy in 1962. Born Robert Gordon Mackie in Monterey Park, California, in 1939, he was married to singer and actress Lulu Porter from 1960 to 1963 and had a son, Robin, who later died from an AIDS-related illness. Mackie was also in a long-term relationship with designer Ray Aghayan. He continued working late in life and once said he hoped never to retire, leaving behind a lasting influence on Hollywood fashion and popular culture.

France 24 reports that Bob Mackie, the celebrated Hollywood fashion designer known for creating glamorous costumes for major entertainers, died on Monday at the age of 87. The report cites a post on Mackie’s official Instagram account as the source of the announcement. No cause of death or further details about the circumstances are provided in the available text. Mackie’s career spanned five decades and made him one of the best-known designers associated with celebrity fashion and show-business spectacle. The article specifically highlights his work for Cher and Elton John, saying he was known for making the stars “sparkle.” His designs were widely associated with elaborate, highly theatrical clothing that helped shape the public images of performers. The report also notes Mackie’s involvement in designing clothing for Barbie dolls, demonstrating the breadth of his influence beyond stage and screen costumes. His work connected high-fashion aesthetics with popular culture and helped bring his distinctive style to a broad audience. The item is presented as a short France 24 culture report, with additional coverage from journalist Camille Knight. The supplied text contains only a brief written introduction and does not provide a detailed biography, a full list of Mackie’s clients, or reactions from colleagues and celebrities. Its primary focus is the confirmation of his death, his long career, and his lasting association with prominent entertainers and Barbie fashion.

Bob Mackie, the celebrated American fashion and costume designer known as the “Designer to the Stars,” has died at the age of 87. Mackie died on Monday in Palm Springs, California, from pneumonia, according to his publicist. A statement posted on his social media accounts said he had fulfilled his lifelong ambition of working as a fashion and costume designer. Mackie became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable designers through his glamorous, theatrical and often provocative creations. His work helped define the visual style of 1970s entertainment, while his costumes for television, film, Broadway and live performances dressed several generations of cultural icons. He was particularly known for creating Carol Burnett’s humorous costumes and Cher’s revealing stage outfits. During his career, Mackie won nine Emmy Awards and a Tony Award, and received three Oscar nominations. One nomination came for his work on Barbra Streisand’s 1975 film Funny Lady, for which he designed a sheer batwing gown. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame in 2002. His clients included Madonna, Streisand, Sharon Stone, Diana Ross, Whoopi Goldberg and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. He also designed concert costumes for Pink. Among his most famous creations was the sheer, beaded gown worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang a seductive version of “Happy Birthday” for President John F. Kennedy at a 1962 fundraiser for Kennedy and the Democratic National Committee. The article notes that Mackie developed the design from a sketch. Mackie’s legacy spans Hollywood glamour, comedy, music, television and stage performance, cementing his influence as a designer who transformed celebrity clothing into memorable cultural imagery.