Emmy-Winning Costume Designer Bob Mackie Dies at 87

Emmy-winning costume designer Bob Mackie, known for his dazzling and glamorous creations for stars such as Cher, Carol Burnett, and Marilyn Monroe, died Monday at 87.

A statement on his Instagram account announced his passing, noting he lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer. The statement added that his genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever. Mackie, often called the "Sultan of Sequins," won a Tony Award, nine Emmys, and received three Oscar nominations during his career.

He was particularly influential in Cher's career, designing her iconic Mohawk outfit for the 1986 Oscars, which Cher described as her revenge outfit. This showgirl-inspired costume, featuring a plumed headdress and bare midriff, was considered shocking at the time. Mackie told the BBC in 2010 that Cher looked like no-one else in the entertainment business and could wear anything, with his designs pivotal to her being widely reported as the first woman to show her belly button on US television.

His work also included designing costumes for Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, Elton John, and Diana Ross, building their wardrobes with shimmering gowns. Mackie's design ethos centered on sequins, sparkle, glitz, and high glamour. He created over 450 costumes across 11 seasons of "The Carol Burnett Show," including the famous curtain-rod Scarlett O'Hara gown. Miley Cyrus performed and won her first Grammy in 2024 in a Mackie design. Mackie, born Robert Gordon Mackie in Monterey Park, California, began as a sketch artist in 1961.