Legendary Costume and Fashion Designer Bob Mackie Dies at 87

Bob Mackie, the visionary fashion and costume designer whose flamboyant creations defined Hollywood glamour and transformed pop culture, has died at the age of 87.

His team and family confirmed his passing in a statement shared on his official social media accounts yesterday, Monday September 14th. A specific cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

“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.”

Born Robert Gordon Mackie on March 24, 1939, in Monterey Park, California, Mackie rose to become one of the most recognizable and celebrated costume designers in entertainment history. Affectionately nicknamed the "Sultan of Sequins", his signature style embraced theatrical, dazzling styles, figure-hugging silhouettes, and daring transparency.

Mackie shaped the visual identity of mid-20th-century entertainment, working alongside legendary costume designers like Edith Head and Ray Aghayan before cementing his own legendary status. He built a career out of crafting moments that stopped turned heads, and broke boundaries.

Mackie’s name is permanently intertwined with the superstars he outfitted across television, film, stage, and red carpets. His early muses included Cher, Carol Burnett, Marilyn Monroe, to mention but a few. Over his decades-long career, his clientele and canvas extended to Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Madonna, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston, Elton John, and Barbra Streisand.

Mackie’s peerless contributions earned him top honors across multiple platforms. He accumulated over 30 Primetime Emmy nominations, winning nine times. He also received three Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design for Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Funny Lady (1975), and Pennies from Heaven (1981). In 2002, he made history as the first costume designer ever inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Beyond Hollywood screens and concert stages, his influence expanded into popular culture through his long-running collaborative line of collectible Bob Mackie Barbie dolls for Mattel, launched in 1982, and his successful QVC "Wearable Art" collection in the 1990s. He also earned a Tony Award for his costume work on Broadway's The Cher Show.

More recently, Mackie made a delightful pop-culture cameo in May 2026 on an episode of the hit television series Hacks, reminding a new generation of his enduring cultural footprint.

Details regarding a memorial service have not yet been announced.