Legendary Hollywood Designer Bob Mackie Dead At 87

Legendary Hollywood fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie has died at the age of 87.

The nine-time Emmy Award-winner was known for his spectacular, over-the-top designs he created for Hollywood heavy-hitters including Cher, Diana Ross, Mitzi Gaynor and Carol Burnett.

Mackie was a three-time Oscar nominee for his work on the movies Lady Sings the Blues, Funny Lady and Pennies From Heaven. In 2002, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

cher’s looks by bob mackie on “the cher show” (1975) will forever be iconic pic.twitter.com/En9mz4T0AX

— 2000s (@PopCulture2000s) September 14, 2026

His passing was announced on his official social media:

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Mackie worked on Burnett’s acclaimed CBS variety show for each of its 11 seasons, won the first-ever Emmy for costume design and earned three Oscar nominations during a sparkly five-decade career.

On Funny Lady (1975), Mackie and Ray Aghayan, his longtime professional and life partner, earned an Oscar nom after they created 40 complete 1930s-style outfits — not only dresses and suits, but also the hats, gloves, scarves and shoes — for Barbra Streisand’s Fanny Brice.

Mackie debuted his signature style of lavish gowns, astonishing headpieces and dance-friendly designs in 1966 when he was enlisted by Gaynor to design the energetic singer-dancer’s costumes for her Las Vegas revue and subsequent television specials.

After seeing Gaynor’s Vegas extravaganza, Burnett recruited Mackie to design the costumes for The Carol Burnett Show. The comedienne once estimated that he designed more than 17,000 pieces for her program.

Mackie’s most famous design for Burnett had to be the “curtain rod” Scarlett O’Hara dress for the sketch “Went With the Wind!” It takes a very special talent to understand not only glamour, but comedy as well.

thank you bob mackie for the funniest dress in history pic.twitter.com/bCq5Sf4kWf

— ryan is back (@myrnaharlowpt2) September 14, 2026

“I always knew what I wanted to do,” he told PEOPLE in 2021. “But I knew I was in trouble when my parents gave me a catcher’s mitt for Christmas. Then my good aunt gave me a jewelry-making kit. I made a few pairs of earrings, and that was that.”

Earlier this year, I reported on the terrific documentary – “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion” – available now on HBO Max.

Rest well, Bob Mackie.