Bob Mackie, Legendary Costume Designer, Dies at 87

Bob Mackie: Legendary Costume Designer Dies at 87

Bob Mackie, the iconic costume designer renowned for creating glamorous, rhinestone-encrusted looks for entertainment legends, died of pneumonia at age 87 on Monday. Mackie was best known for dressing Cher and costuming “The Carol Burnett Show,” and his name became synonymous with sparkle throughout his seven-decade career. The designer solved the problem of creating memorable, character-driven stage personas through extravagant and comedic visual storytelling.

Key Facts

AttributeValue

Full NameBob Mackie Birth Year1939 Cause of DeathPneumonia Age at Death87 Primary MediumCostume and fashion design Career PartnerRay Aghayan (1963–2011) Career Duration”The Carol Burnett Show” (1967–1978) Emmy Awards Won9 Academy Award Nominations3 Tony Award1 (2019, for “The Cher Show”)

How Did Bob Mackie Start His Career?

Bob Mackie’s passion for fashion developed while watching Technicolor musicals of Golden Age Hollywood in his youth. After dropping out of art school, Mackie worked for designer Ray Aghayan, who became his partner from 1963 until his passing in 2011. In one of his earliest jobs, Mackie created the original sketch for Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress, which was made by French designer Jean Louis.

Following this auspicious start, Mackie began designing for Mitzi Gaynor in 1966, the first of many stars he worked with directly. After seeing one of Gaynor’s stage shows, Carol Burnett hired Mackie for “The Carol Burnett Show,” a collaboration that lasted the entire 11-year run from 1967 to 1978.

Bob Mackie created the original sketch for Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress before establishing his career with Mitzi Gaynor in 1966.

What Was Bob Mackie’s Relationship With Cher?

Bob Mackie met Cher on the set of “The Carol Burnett Show,” where he became her primary designer and ultimate muse for the rest of her career. Mackie immediately recognized Cher’s star power when producers initially didn’t know what to do with the entertainer. He dressed Cher into the ’00s and beyond, creating her most memorable looks including the revealing 1986 Oscars ensemble.

“I said, ‘She can be anything you want her to be. You write it, we’ll do it.’ And it worked. Every week, people would watch to see what she was going to wear. She played famous queens and courtesans of history and all these crazy parts. It was all comedy, and it was so fun.” — Bob Mackie, in a 2024 interview with Woman’s World

Mackie’s creativity and Cher’s charisma proved a winning combination, with Mackie admitting he occasionally had to tone her down. In 2019, Mackie won a Tony Award for costuming “The Cher Show,” a Broadway jukebox musical based on her life. After his death, Cher posted on X: “My dear Bob has gone up to heaven. Knowing him, he’s bringing Sequins, Beads, & his sketch pad. Good nite, sweet Prince.”

Bob Mackie designed Cher’s notoriously revealing 1986 Oscars ensemble and won a 2019 Tony Award for costuming “The Cher Show.”

What Were Bob Mackie’s Most Famous Costumes for Carol Burnett?

Bob Mackie’s most famous look for Carol Burnett was a heavy gown made from curtains, complete with a rod, for the 1976 “Gone With the Wind” parody sketch “Went With the Wind.” Mackie’s decision to incorporate the curtain rod into the dress to enhance Burnett’s physical comedy established campy visual humor as a hallmark of his prolific career, creating dozens of creative costumes weekly during the show’s 11-year run.

In a statement following Mackie’s death, Burnett said: “Sadness doesn’t come close to how I feel. I loved him very much. As for his genius, there are fashion designers who don’t do costumes and there are costume designers who don’t do fashion. Bob did it all. There was no one like him.”

Bob Mackie’s curtain-rod gown for Carol Burnett’s 1976 “Went With the Wind” sketch made campy visual humor a signature of his career.

Which Films Earned Bob Mackie Academy Award Nominations?

Bob Mackie earned Best Costume Design Academy Award nominations for three films. He received nominations for the Diana Ross-starring Billie Holiday biopic “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972), Barbra Streisand’s “Funny Girl” sequel “Funny Lady” (1975), and the Steve Martin/Bernadette Peters musical “Pennies From Heaven” (1981). His costumes enhanced the period aesthetics of these films immeasurably.

Streisand recalled: “He designed one gorgeous outfit after another for me in ‘Funny Lady.’ He might continue designing creations for the angels.” Peters called him “one of the most talented people you’d ever want to meet,” praising how he could develop ideas to the “nth degree.”

Bob Mackie received three Best Costume Design Academy Award nominations for “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972), “Funny Lady” (1975), and “Pennies From Heaven” (1981).

Which Celebrities Did Bob Mackie Design For?

Bob Mackie’s list of celebrity clients reads like a who’s who of entertainment, including Diana Ross, Madonna, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, and Elton John. While he made his name on the small screen, winning nine Emmy Awards, his influence extended to film with Academy Award nominations for his costume design work.

In recent years, as vintage fashion gained popularity on the red carpet, Mackie’s retro glam attracted a new following among young stars like Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, Zendaya, and Taylor Swift, who wore glittering looks from his archive.

Bob Mackie designed for celebrities including Diana Ross, Madonna, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, and Elton John.

How Did Bob Mackie Define Glamour?

Bob Mackie defined glamour as accessible and fun, despite primarily working with the rich and famous. He designed both runway and off-the-rack fashion over the years, including a mainstream line for QVC and a collection of Barbie dolls. The fashion world didn’t always take him seriously because of his costume background, which he acknowledged in interviews.

“Glamour is having a good time getting dressed up and enjoying yourself, and looking a certain way or a way that you’ve been wanting to look. You don’t want to look foolish, but at the same time, you want to have fun.” — Bob Mackie, at a 2025 preview event for an auction of his designs

Mackie stayed in the public eye with a 2024 documentary, “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion,” and a cameo in “Hacks” earlier this year. His vividly rendered fashion sketches made his famous clients look like stylish superheroes, with designs emblematic of their eras, including ’70s disco chic and ’80s power dressing.

Bob Mackie described glamour as “having a good time getting dressed up and enjoying yourself” while still looking the way you want to look.

Who Is This Tribute For?

This tribute is for fans of fashion history, entertainment enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the cultural impact of costume design on television, film, and the red carpet. Bob Mackie’s work spans from the late 1960s through the present, with his archive continuing to influence contemporary fashion. His designs demonstrate how costume and fashion design intersect, as noted by Carol Burnett in her tribute.

Common Questions

How did Bob Mackie and Cher first meet?

Bob Mackie met Cher on the set of “The Carol Burnett Show.” He immediately recognized her star power, telling producers they could write any part for her. Mackie said, “I put her in anything and everything, and she took it right on.”

What was Bob Mackie’s most famous costume design?

Bob Mackie’s most famous costume was the curtain-rod gown for Carol Burnett’s 1976 “Went With the Wind” parody sketch. He incorporated the curtain rod to enhance Burnett’s physical comedy, making campy visual humor a touchstone of his prolific career.

What awards did Bob Mackie win?

Bob Mackie won nine Emmy Awards and a 2019 Tony Award for costuming “The Cher Show.” He also received three Best Costume Design Academy Award nominations for “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972), “Funny Lady” (1975), and “Pennies From Heaven” (1981).

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a tribute originally published on RogerEbert.com, titled “Bob Mackie, Legendary Costume Designer, Dies at 87.” The source material includes direct quotes from Bob Mackie himself, as well as tributes from Cher, Carol Burnett, Barbra Streisand, and Bernadette Peters. Information was also drawn from a 2024 Woman’s World interview and a 2025 auction preview event. This article was last updated on February 5, 2026.