Bob Mackie, the prolific costume and fashion designer known for his dazzling, heavily embellished creations that defined the looks of iconic performers such as Carol Burnett, Cher, Diana Ross, and RuPaul, died on Monday at a hospital in Palm Springs, California. He was 87. The announcement of his death was confirmed by Joe McFate, Mackie's longtime design director.
Mackie’s work became synonymous with glamour and theatricality, marked by intricate beading, sequins, feathers, and rhinestones. Over a career that spanned several decades, his designs not only adorned some of the biggest names in entertainment but also left a lasting cultural imprint, influencing television, stage, and even the fashion doll Barbie.
Mackie’s professional breakthrough came in the late 1960s when he became the costume designer for "The Carol Burnett Show," which ran for 11 seasons beginning in 1967. During the show, he created an average of 60 costumes weekly for the cast, including Burnett, Harvey Korman, and others. His inventive designs helped bring Burnett’s characters to life, such as the memorable “Mrs. Wiggins,” a role defined in part by Mackie’s costume choices. One of his most famous creations from the series was a comedic gown fashioned from curtains for a parody of “Gone With the Wind,” which now resides in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
His collaboration with Cher beginning in the early 1970s on “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” showcased Mackie’s ability to push fashion boundaries. Cher’s flamboyant costumes, often revealing and provocative, challenged television censorship at the time and became a defining element of her public persona. Mackie once joked about a censor’s complaint regarding an outfit revealing the undersides of Cher’s breasts, highlighting his irreverent approach to design. Cher later became the first performer to show her belly button on TV, a milestone in broadcast standards attributed to their work together.
Mackie’s influence extended beyond television variety shows, which he likened to movie musicals for the home audience, into film, stage, and commercial fashion. Early in his career, he was co-nominated for Academy Awards for films including "Lady Sings the Blues" (1972) and "Funny Lady" (1975), and he won multiple Emmy Awards for his costume design work, particularly for Cher’s concert tours and specials.
Born Robert Gordon Mackie in 1939 in Monterey Park, California, he dropped out of art school to begin sketching for renowned Hollywood designers Jean Louis and Edith Head. Mackie’s early work included sketching for Marilyn Monroe’s iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress. He formed a lifelong personal and professional partnership with designer Ray Aghayan, with whom he shared an Emmy for the television movie “Alice Through the Looking Glass” in 1967.
In addition to his costume work, Mackie designed a ready-to-wear collection in the 1980s and later collaborated with QVC on clothing and home collections. Despite his commercial success and cult status, some fashion critics debated his place within high fashion, often categorizing his work as camp or theatrical rather than mainstream couture.
Mackie also made a significant impact on pop culture by designing extravagant outfits for Barbie dolls, beginning in 1982, including the popular Goddess of the Sun Barbie gown adorned with thousands of sequins.
Throughout his life, Mackie received numerous accolades, including the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s award for fashion exuberance in 2001 and its lifetime achievement award in 2019, as well as a Tony Award that year for his costume design in “The Cher Show” on Broadway.
Mackie is survived by a granddaughter and two great-granddaughters. His legacy endures as a pioneering designer who brought high camp, fantasy, and unapologetic glamour to the worlds of fashion and entertainment.