CHICAGO, Illinois, September 15, 2026 — Bob Mackie, iconic costume and fashion designer, died at 87, the designer’s team revealed on social media Monday. Dubbed the “Sultan of Sequins”, Mackie dressed some of the biggest names in entertainment for over six decades. A spokesman said he died in Palm Springs, California of pneumonia.
A Career Built on Glamour
His decades-long collaboration with Cher made Mackie a household name, dressing the singer in sequins, feathers, and revealing illusion lace. He was the costume designer for the entire cast of “The Carol Burnett Show” for all eleven years of its run. His designs also gained fame because of associations with Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Bette Midler.
Mackie was born in Monterey Park, California; he attended CalArts (formerly the Chouinard Art Institute). Starting his career sketching for costume designer Jean Louis, he went on to establish a name for himself in film, television, and live performance. During his career, Mackie won nine Emmys and a Tony.
Recognition Across Generations
Mackie received three Oscar nominations, one for the iconic batwing gown Barbra Streisand wore in “Funny Lady.” In 1967, he was the first designer to win an Emmy for costume design, creating a category that exists to this day. Miley Cyrus wore an archival Mackie gown at the 2024 Grammys, inspired by previous work of his that had resonated with younger stars.
Cher has previously called Mackie, who worked with the star throughout her 60-year stage and television career, one of her most defining creative collaborators. Theatrical, flamboyant signature looks with sequins, feathers, and intricate beading became his calling card. At the same time, industry colleagues regularly honored Mackie for having established a whole generation of Hollywood glamour.
A Personal Life Touched by Loss
In 1963, costume designer Ray Aghayan became Mackie’s long-term partner and remained with him until Aghayan’s death in 2011. They worked together for years while maintaining separate individual clients. His only son, Robin, died from an AIDS-related illness in the early 1990s.
Later, Mackie became involved in philanthropy related to HIV and AIDS, including the Desert AIDS Project. He auctioned off parts of his personal archive of sketches and costumes via Christie’s in 2005, with the proceeds going to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Though Mackie’s career was extremely public, friends said he insisted his personal life remain fiercely private.
A Legacy That Continues
His death sparked tributes from across the show-business world. Colleagues recalled Mackie not only for his technical prowess but for his gift of making performers larger than life on stage. His influence continues to echo in modern fashion—whether through red carpet gowns or concert stage design.
Mackie’s costumes are still housed in museum collections and featured in American fashion history retrospectives. His contributions will be recognized during industry awards ceremonies later this fall. For generations of performers and audiences, Mackie’s designs became synonymous with the very idea of Hollywood spectacle.
Mackie’s impact goes beyond a handful of individual gowns, fashion historians say; it filters through the entire visual coding of live performance. He was known for his ability to marry theatrical showmanship with technical rigor, and many designers still refer back to that standard. Younger costume designers have often claimed that his work has influenced their own artistic style.
Collectors and cataloguers have reported that interest in Mackie’s designs and early dresses has grown after his death. When his estate is sold, auction houses that handled parts of his archive in the past expect interest to be just as high. The handful of museums that have Mackie works in their collections say they expect attention from more visitors in the coming months.
Aside from his design work, colleagues remembered Mackie as being generous with his time for younger talent entering the industry. Many designers credited him with serving as an early mentor whose career would go on to influence theirs in costuming and fashion design. This was remarkable work, and his death brings to a close an era of maximalist glamour he did so much to spread across generations of American entertainment.
