Legendary fashion designer and Palm Springs resident Bob Mackie died Monday, Sept. 14, according to an announcement on his Instagram page. He was 87.
"It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today. 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," the post read. "His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world."
Cher, Bob Mackie (and other star) connections
Mackie was known for his creative and colorful outfits made for frequent collaborators Cher, Carol Burnett, Elton John, Tina Turner and Diana Ross. Over his five-decade career, Mackie received nine Emmy Awards, three Academy Award nominations and an induction
into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
He called Palm Springs home for the past five years and was frequently celebrated for his career.
Bob Mackie dresses
The designer was honored for his work at the Palm Springs Art Museum's annual Art Party on Jan. 26 with Burnett in attendance. The museum also celebrated his legacy with Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie, a special presentation that offered an intimate look into his glamorous creations. The presentation featured five gowns, including the iconic curtain dress from "The Carol Burnett Show," and a number of sketches that reflected his creative efforts from the 1960s through the 2000s.
The 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival also screened "Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion," a documentary by Matthew Miele all about the designer that spotlighted several of his career-defining looks and the stars who wore them.
Mackie told The Desert Sun in 2024 that he'd been approached about doing a documentary on his work several times in the past, but it was only possible with Miele who "had the right attitude."
"He wanted to tell a story about a person. Not just, oh la la la, isn’t he wonderful and all that sort of nonsense. It’s really about someone who does that for a job," Mackie said. "I’m very serious about my work. Everyone says, 'Wouldn’t it be fun? Is it fun doing what you do for a living?' And I say, yes, but it’s important to do it right."
Mackie shared that he wanted to pursue costume design ever since he was a child. He said he loved seeing stars like Carmen Miranda and Betty Grable dressed up in their expressive outfits and was a big fan of musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, which, in particular, featured vibrant designs.
He first worked for Paramount Studios as a sketch artist, and then for legendary costume designer Edith Head in the 1960s. But he truly made a name for himself with the looks he designed for the television series "The Sonny and Cher Show" and "The Carol Burnett Show." Fans of the "Gone with the Wind" spoof from Burnett's variety show will likely never forget the outlandish curtain dress she donned, which was all thanks to Mackie. He also designed costumes for several films, which earned him his three Academy Award nominations.
Mackie's decades-long collaboration with Cher also put more eyes on his work. He dressed her in several iconic looks, including her 1986 Oscars "revenge" outfit, which included a towering feathered headpiece and black jewel-encrusted bralette and matching low-rise side-slit skirt, and the "naked dress" she wore to the 1974 Met Gala (made of a see-through mesh with sequins and feathers).
"I’ve been really lucky, I’ve had the best clients ever," Mackie told The Desert Sun. "I have people that I really admire, and I admire their work ethic and talent."
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com, on X @ema_sasic or on Instagram @emasasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Iconic fashion designer, Palm Springs resident Bob Mackie dies at 87
