The costume designer Bob Mackie, known for dressing Hollywood stars in sequins for decades, has passed away at 87. His official Instagram shared the announcement, which included a statement saying, “He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do.”. The post also added, “His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”.
The “Sultan of Sequins,” whose career spanned the latter half of the 20th century, was Mackie. Among his most memorable creations were Cher’s Oscars outfits, the curtain dress he made for Carol Burnett’s “Went With The Wind!” sketch, and designs for a roster of stars including Tina Turner, Elton John, and Diana Ross. His influence endures: Beyoncé, Pink, and Miley Cyrus have all worn his work.
Early Days at Paramount
Mackie came into the world in Monterey Park, California in 1939. His early career began sketching for costume designer Frank Thompson at Paramount, where he picked up lessons from Ray Aghayan and Edith Head. Aghayan, who shared a romantic bond with Mackie from 1963 until his death in 2011, was a significant influence on him.
Mackie created the original drawing for Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” outfit in the early 1960s. During that same period, he dressed Mitzi Gaynor and Diana Ross. His costume work on Ross ultimately brought him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design for Lady Sings the Blues.
Two nominations came after the announcement: one for the sequel Funny Lady and one for Pennies From Heaven.
The 1970s Takeover
The 1970s brought Mackie’s work to millions of American homes. He was the costume designer for The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour and The Carol Burnett Show. Burnett recalled in a 2016 interview with People how Mackie’s designs shaped her characters:
“Bob actually has a great comedic mind,” Burnett said. “When I put the skirt on, it was tight in the knees and it dragged in the behind. And I said, ‘Bob, you’re going to have to take that in because I’m flat in my behind.’ But he said, ‘No, stick your behind into it.’ And that became her walk – that swaybacked walk with my butt sticking out, and that totally contributed to the character. He’d do that with so many of the sketches we were doing.”
Mackie picked up nine Emmys throughout his career, yet none of them came from his work on The Carol Burnett Show. He entered the Television Hall Of Fame in 2002.
Cher’s Biggest Moments
Cher’s Oscars appearances were defined by Mackie’s designs. He dressed her there twice, most notably the time she took home the prize for her role in Moonstruck. He also created the sheer outfit Cher wears in the “If I Could Turn Back Time” video from 1989.
“I said, ‘Please don’t tell anyone that I designed this,’” Mackie joked in a 2024 interview. “‘Don’t let anyone know this. I’m embarrassed,’ and she was fine about it. Now she admits that, no, it wasn’t so good.”
The relationship was depicted in the 2018 Broadway musical The Cher Show, for which Mackie won a Tony Award for Costume Design.
A Legacy That Refuses to Age
Mackie’s designs are often associated with the glamour and excess of the 1970s and ’80s. But they have stayed relevant. Beyoncé and Pink have both worn his work, and Miley Cyrus wore a Mackie original the night she won her first Grammy in 2024.
Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, has had her archival images brought to light again alongside Sabrina Carpenter, with both showing off looks from years past over the last twelve months.
Mackie was described as modest when it came to talking about his own work. Asked if he had a favorite among his Carol Burnett Show designs, he simply said, “Anytime somebody walks out and the audience goes crazy and laughs and applauds, that is pretty good.”.
A Rough Career Timeline
Across six decades, Mackie built his career, and below is a rough breakdown of the major periods within it:
- The 1960s: Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress, Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues, and his first Oscar nomination.
- The 1970s: The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour, The Carol Burnett Show, and nine Emmy wins.
- The 1980s: Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Cher’s Oscars appearances, and the “If I Could Turn Back Time” costume.
- The 2000s: Induction into the Television Hall Of Fame in 2002.
- The 2010s: The Cher Show and his Tony win.
- The 2020s: Recent archival work for Sabrina Carpenter and Deborah Vance.
His career was built on collaboration. Aghayan’s death in 2011 ended a partnership that lasted nearly five decades. Burnett’s praise for his comedic instincts shows how his work went beyond simple spectacle.
Mackie’s death ends a career that shaped television fashion for decades. His designs were not just costumes; they were character-defining performances. The Mrs. Wiggins costume changed Burnett’s walk. The “If I Could Turn Back Time” dress became a cultural touchstone. His work with Cher defined an era of the Oscars.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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