Bob Mackie, the legendary fashion and costume designer whose glittering, bold creations defined the glamorous aesthetics of icons like Cher and Carol Burnett, has died at the age of 87. Known for his signature use of heavy embellishments and intricate beadwork, Mackie’s designs graced some of the most famous stages and red carpets in entertainment history, leaving an indelible mark on American pop culture.
Throughout his illustrious career, Mackie collaborated with a stellar roster of superstars, including Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and Liza Minnelli. His work earned him immense critical acclaim, culminating in nine Emmy Awards out of 32 nominations, three Academy Award nominations, and a Tony Award. In 2002, his contributions to the medium were permanently recognized when he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
One of Mackie’s most enduring professional and personal relationships was with comedy legend Carol Burnett. Their partnership began in 1967 on "The Carol Burnett Show" and lasted for 11 seasons. Upon learning of his passing, Burnett expressed her profound grief in a statement on September 14. "Sadness doesn't come close to how I feel. I loved him very much," Burnett wrote. She praised his unique versatility, noting, "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."
Among the countless outfits Mackie designed for Burnett, none achieved quite the same level of legendary status as the green-velvet curtain dress featured in "Went With the Wind," the show's famous parody of "Gone With the Wind." The dress, which is now preserved and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, featured an actual curtain rod across the shoulders. Burnett recalled that the original script simply called for her character, Starlett, to descend the stairs with the curtains hanging on her. It was Mackie who envisioned the physical comedy of keeping the curtain rod intact. Burnett admitted she "fell on the floor" laughing when she saw it. Mackie himself later reflected on the design, saying, "That one’s going to be carved on my gravestone. It wasn't until the last minute that I decided to do it like that. I said, 'Well, that’ll get some kind of a laugh.' It got an enormous laugh."
Mackie also designed for Burnett outside of her variety show, including the 2005 television production of "Once Upon A Mattress," where she portrayed Queen Aggravain. Mackie described his vision for the character as a "Medieval Joan Collins on 'Dynasty,'" designing outfits that were "too many clothes – and mean and horrible and glamorous, all at once."
It was during his time on "The Carol Burnett Show" that Mackie first met Cher, sparking a lifelong creative bond. Cher and her then-husband, Sonny Bono, appeared during the first season of the show. While watching Mackie's team repair a beaded dress, Cher expressed a desire to one day own one herself, though she noted they could not afford it at the time. Mackie responded warmly, telling her, "When you’re ready, I’m ready."
That promise blossomed into decades of show-stopping fashion moments, particularly at the Academy Awards during the 1980s. In 1984, when Cher was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Silkwood," she turned heads in a nude-toned halter gown designed by Mackie, featuring a plunging neckline and all-over crystal beading. Two years later, in 1986, after being snubbed by the Academy for her performance in "Mask," Cher arrived to present an award wearing what would become one of Mackie's most famous and provocative creations. The black two-piece ensemble consisted of a caged, jewel-encrusted bra top, a matching low-rise skirt with high side slits, and a towering, feathered mohawk headpiece that blended with her dark hair. Cher famously referred to the outfit as her "My ‘f— you’ moment" to the Academy. Mackie recalled questioning the audacity of the look beforehand, asking Cher if it might pull too much focus from the actual award winner. Cher confidently replied, "Oh, no. I don’t know who it’ll be, but he’ll love it."
In 1988, Cher enjoyed her ultimate Oscar triumph, winning Best Actress for "Moonstruck." For the occasion, she once again wore a Mackie creation: a sheer, heavily beaded black gown with a form-fitting ruched skirt, which she styled with a black fur stole and long, dark earrings.
Born in Monterey Park, California, on March 24, 1939, Mackie harbored dreams of becoming a famous designer from an early age. In a 2021 interview, he recalled knowing exactly what he wanted to do, despite his parents' differing expectations. "I knew I was in trouble when my parents gave me a catcher’s mitt for Christmas," he joked. "Then my good aunt gave me a jewelry-making kit. I made a few pairs of earrings, and that was that."
Mackie began his formal education at Pasadena City College before transferring to the Chouinard Art Institute, though he departed after one year. In 1961, he secured a position as a sketch artist for legendary Paramount Studios costume designer Edith Head. His major breakthrough arrived when performer Mitzi Gaynor hired him to design costumes for her Las Vegas stage show. Mackie continued to collaborate with Gaynor on her subsequent television specials, a partnership that yielded his first two Emmy wins and launched his career into the Hollywood stratosphere. Decades later, his theatrical expertise earned him a Tony Award in 2019 for his work on Broadway's "The Cher Show," cementing his legacy as a master of both fashion and theatrical costume design.
