Bob Mackie, the visionary fashion and costume designer whose glittering creations adorned icons from Cher to Carol Burnett, died Monday morning at age 87. His team confirmed his passing, stating that he died of pneumonia in a hospital in Palm Springs, California.
Mackie lived a life dedicated to his craft, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a fashion and costume designer. His prolific career earned him 32 Emmy nominations and three Academy Award nominations for his work on films like "Lady Sings the Blues," "Funny Lady," and "Pennies From Heaven."
He was particularly renowned for his flamboyant and often daring designs for singer Cher, which earned him the moniker "Sultan of Sequins." Their collaboration spanned decades, with Mackie creating unforgettable outfits for Cher's stage performances and public appearances, including a famously revealing gown for the 1986 Academy Awards.
Mackie's creative genius extended to numerous other celebrated performers. He designed costumes for "The Carol Burnett Show," including Burnett's iconic "curtain rod" dress. His work also graced the wardrobes of stars such as Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, Bette Midler, and Pink.
Beyond television and film, Mackie contributed his distinctive style to theatrical productions and was responsible for the preliminary sketch of Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress in 1962.
Tributes poured in from those he worked with and admired. Singer Pink remembered Mackie as a "loving, wickedly funny and an absolute genius," adding, "He was one of one. He will be dearly missed." Actress Carol Burnett highlighted his ability to enhance comedy sketches with his character-driven costumes.
Mackie's influence continues to be felt in contemporary fashion, with his archival pieces being worn by current stars and his designs inspiring a new generation of designers. He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2002.
Mackie's personal life included a marriage to showgirl Lulu Porter, with whom he had a son, Robert Gordon Mackie Jr., who died from AIDS at age 35. His longtime partner, costume designer Ray Aghayan, died in 2011.