Cher, Tina Turner, and Others Wore His Designs: Legendary Designer Bob Mackie Has Died

Bob Mackie has died at the age of 87. The news was announced in a post on his Instagram account. The American designer worked for more than six decades in film, television, theater, and concert tours, creating costumes for stars such as Cher, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and Carol Burnett.

The statement read: “He lived his 87 years to the fullest and fulfilled his dream of becoming a fashion and costume designer.” His designs remained unmistakable for their vibrant colors, elaborate beading, feathers, and famous “nude illusion” dresses.

Bob Mackie Started Out as an Illustrator in Hollywood

The Californian began his career as a sketch artist for costume designer Jean Louis. One of his early assignments was a sketch for the dress Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962 while singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.” In the 1960s, he went on to design costumes for Mitzi Gaynor’s Las Vegas revues.

Mackie’s career then entered a defining period in television. For eleven years, he designed the costumes for The Carol Burnett Show. He later brought his distinctive style to the theater, including Lorelei with Carol Channing and Minnelli on Minnelli with Liza Minnelli.

Cher and Bob Mackie Developed Their Own Stage Style

Mackie had a particularly close creative partnership with Cher. He designed dresses and costumes for her television appearances, tours, and award shows. Among his most memorable creations was the striking outfit she wore to the 1986 Oscars, featuring a feathered mohawk-style headdress and a bare midriff.

In the documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion, Cher explained that she deliberately chose the daring look as a form of “revenge” after she was not nominated for her performance in Mask. As the BBC reported, the outfit quickly became one of her most iconic red-carpet looks. Mackie had already noted in 2010 that Cher looked like no one else in the entertainment business at the beginning of her career.

Awards, Barbie, and His Own Fashion Label

Mackie’s work earned numerous accolades. He won nine Emmys, received three Oscar nominations, and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2002. He also won a Tony Award in 2019 for his work on The Cher Show. In 1982, he launched his own ready-to-wear label, Mackie.

Beyond stage and television fashion, Mackie also designed outfits for Mattel’s Barbie dolls. Even shortly before his death, his designs continued to be worn by major stars, including Sabrina Carpenter at the MTV Video Music Awards and Miley Cyrus at the 2024 Grammy Awards.