Bob Mackie, Famed Fashion Designer to Cher and More, Dead at 87

The "Sultan of Sequins" also worked closely with icons like Carol Burnett and Diana Ross

Bob Mackie, the legendary fashion designer to pop divas Cher, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and more, has died, according to a statement posted to his Instagram account. He was 87.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,” the statement read. “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.”

No cause of death was given.

Mackie was acclaimed for his elaborate and theatrical fashion designs, which earned him nicknames like the “Sultan of Sequins” and “Guru of Glitter.” His six-decade partnership with pop icon Cher garnered widespread attention as he dressed her in bedazzled creations for The Cher Show, the Met Gala, and her many tours.

Mackie was born in Monterey Park, California in 1939. After seeing An American in Paris in theaters and growing enamored with its elaborate choreography, he discovered he could become a fashion designer and set forth on achieving his goal.

Early in his career, Mackie worked for costume designers Jean Louis and Edith Head. He got his break working on The Carol Burnett Show, where he created an average of 60 costumes a week, including a campy ensemble made of curtains (rod and all) for a Gone With the Wind sketch. In 1963, he met designer Ray Aghayan and they entered a business and romantic partnership that lasted until Aghayan’s death in 2011.

Mackie’s famous partnership with disco queen Cher began in the Seventies. While he created some of her most iconic looks, he also challenged the era’s dress code censors. One of his costumes exposed Cher’s midriff, making her the first person approved to show her belly button on TV.

Besides Cher and Burnett, Mackie dressed Whitney Houston, Mitzi Gaynor, Bette Midler, Liza Minelli, and RuPaul. As his designs became more well-known, women who got the chance to wear his works became known as “Mackie Girls.” Today’s biggest pop stars, including Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift have all worn archival Mackie looks.

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“I feel so lucky to have met Bob,” Carpenter wrote in an Instagram Story. “His one of a kind creations have inspired and brought so much happiness and confidence to my world and they will continue to always x Mackie girl forever.”

Though he typically stuck to womenswear, Mackie also designed outfits for Elton John and the Jackson Five. In the Eighties, he even designed looks for a very special client: Barbie. While working on limited edition collectible Barbies for Mattel, he urged the toy giant to make dolls of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds, often dressing his Barbies in outfits that reflected their heritage.

Mackie and Aghayan’s extensive work in film and television also earned them numerous accolades. They were nominated for Best Costume Design at the Academy Awards three times (1973’s Lady Sings the Blues, 1976’s Funny Lady, and 1982’s Pennies from Heaven). Over at the Emmys, Mackie was nominated over 30 times and won nine, including for work with Cher, Burnett, and Ross. In 2019, he won the Tony Award for costume design on The Cher Show jukebox musical.

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In 2001, Mackie was honored by the Council of Fashioner Designers of America (CFA), and in 2019 he received their lifetime achievement award. He was the first costume designer inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2002.

Speaking with Rolling Stone in 2019, Mackie detaild his philosophy when it came to dressing people, saying, “These are all big personality people. They’re not just up there dressed up. You’re always looking for that look, that gag that makes the act special. It’s all about making them look good and entertaining the audience visually as well.”