Costume Designer Bob Mackie Dies at Age 87

Bob Mackie, a renowned costume designer known for his work with stars such as Cher, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and Elton John, has passed away at the age of 87. Mackie, often referred to as the 'Sultan of Sequins' for his elaborate designs, won a Tony Award, nine Emmy Awards, and received three Oscar nominations throughout his career. A statement on his Instagram account announced his death, stating, 'It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today.' The statement continued, '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. His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.' Mackie played a significant role in Cher's career, designing her iconic Mohawk outfit for the Oscars in 1986, which was dubbed her 'revenge' outfit due to her not receiving a nomination that year. The costume, featuring a plumed mohawk headdress and a bare midriff, has been noted as one of the most extravagant outfits in Oscar history. Cher remarked in a 2024 documentary that she dressed for 'a kind of revenge' that night. Mackie stated in a 2010 interview with the BBC that Cher was unique in the entertainment industry, saying, 'Everybody just went crazy over this woman as she could wear anything.' Mackie also designed several costumes for Elton John, including the famous Dodgers baseball outfit he wore during performances at Dodger Stadium in 1975. Sir Elton John expressed his admiration on Instagram, stating, 'Every time I put something on that Bob made, I felt very, very special. His costumes were works of art, and he will go down as one of the most legendary designers ever in Hollywood.' Singer Pink, who wore many of Mackie's designs, shared her gratitude on social media, calling him 'loving, wickedly funny and an absolute genius.' Mackie continued to design until recently, with Sabrina Carpenter wearing one of his creations at the MTV Video Music Awards last year. He also designed the dress worn by Miley Cyrus during her performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Born Robert Gordon Mackie in Monterey Park, California, in 1939, he began his design career as a sketch artist for Jean Louis, a French-American costume designer. One of his early projects included sketching the dress worn by Marilyn Monroe during her famous rendition of 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' to John F. Kennedy in 1962. Mackie was married to actress Lulu Porter from 1960 to 1963 and had a son, Robin, who passed away in his early thirties from an AIDS-related illness. He was in a long-term relationship with Iranian fashion designer Ray Aghayan until Aghayan's death in 2011. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Mackie stated, 'I think I'm the oldest living designer in Hollywood,' and expressed his desire to continue working, saying, 'I hope not.'