Fashion designer Bob Mackie who worked for Marilyn Monroe, Cher and Diana Ross, dies at 87

Famed Hollywood fashion designer Bob Mackie who created some of the most iconic dresses for the biggest stars has died at the age of 87.

His caused of death was pneumonia and he passed in Palm Springs, California, according to People. 

The artist's team shared the news on Monday morning on Instagram 'It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,' began the note.

'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.'

Mackie worked on the famous sketch for Marilyn Monroe’s iconic Happy Birthday, Mr. President dress in 1962, which was designed by Jean Louis. When Monroe requested a skin-tight, 'naked' for the gala, Louis directed Mackie to create the preliminary design illustration.

He was best known, however, for creating the over-the-top showgirl style dresses for singer Cher which won him the nickname Sultan of Sequins.

The Los Angeles native also worked with Carol Burnett, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Ann-Margret and Bette Midler.

And he designed gowns for Madonna, Sharon Stone and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as well as concert costumes for Pink. 

Tributes soon came in as client Pink said, 'Gutted to learn that one of my heroes has passed on. Bob Mackie, the one and only, the legend. I was so lucky to be dressed by him for so long. He was loving, wickedly funny and an absolute genius.

'He was one of one. He will be dearly missed and my heart goes out to Joe, and his entire family and all of his loved ones. There are going to be some fabulously dressed angels.'

Brooke Shields shared on Instagram, 'Bob Mackie’s absolute genius and talent will be remembered for generations. I’m so grateful to have worn his dresses on many occasions, especially in Brenda Starr where he designed my costumes. Thank you for all the beauty you brought into the world, Bob.'

Actor Kristin Chenoweth called him a 'legend' and designer Isaac Mizrahi wrote, simply, 'heartbroken.' Actor Alyssa Milano called him 'one of the best that ever was.' 

One of Mackie's first jobs was as the costumer for The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978. 

Mackie’s most famous creation for that show was his 'curtain rod' Scarlett O’Hara dress from Gone With the Wind. Burnett was a hit in that sketch which was titled Went With the Wind!

'He saved me and many a comedy sketch by coming up with wonderfully funny character outfits that not only enhanced the writing but many times gave me the clue as to what the character I was playing was all about,' Burnett wrote in the introduction to Frank DeCaro’s 1999 book, Unmistakably Mackie.

The Carol Burnett Show is where Mackie met Cher, and they went on to have a very fruitful working relationship.

He was hired to be the costume designer for her show The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which premiered in 1971.

In 1986, she wore one of his very risqué gowns to the Oscars when she presented the best supporting actor Oscar to Don Ameche.

The look combined black stretch pants, a bejeweled loincloth, knee-high boots, a black chain-link top and a large feathered Mohawk headdress. 

'Critics said, "Well, that's not fashion,"' he remembered. 'Well, it wasn't meant to be fashion. She wanted to do it just because it was fun.'

Mackie was a 32-time Emmy nominee as well as a three-time Oscar nominee for his work on the movies Lady Sings the Blues, Funny Lady and Pennies From Heaven.

Mackie also designed costumes for numerous theatrical productions.

He worked on Lorelei starring Carol Channing, On the Town with Bernadette Peters, and Platinum starring Alexis Smith.

The designer added his magical touch on Moon Over Buffalo and Putting It Together with Burnett.

He also said he loved collaborating with Liza Minnelli on Minnelli Starring Liza. 

His influence can be seen in the styles of Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid. His archival pieces are worn today by the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy, Miley Cyrus and Zendaya, the latter who wore a Mackie gown to honor Cher at the induction ceremony.

When Taylor Swift wanted to look like a showgirl on the cover of her 2025 album she turned to some Mackie originals.

Mackie, who was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2002, loved for his clients to stand out.

'You want the audience to be surprised when they walk out,' he said. 'You want them to swoon or ooh or ahh or clap — all of that is important, it’s part of the business of show business. It’s exciting. 

'If a woman is going to do an hour and a half onstage and she’s just in a little black dress, she’d better be Judy Garland. You’re there to see her, you’re not just listening. So there needs to be something visual.'

He also said: 'A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed.'

Mackie had some retail success in the 1980s and ´90s, launching a ready-to-wear line in 1982 that would ultimately land on the runway at New York Fashion Week, and he was an early partner of QVC. 

Mackie was married to showgirl Lulu Porter from 1960 until 1963; their son, makeup artist Robert Gordon Mackie Jr., died from AIDS at age 35. Costume designer Ray Aghayan, his longtime partner, died in 2011.