Key facts
- Bob Mackie, known as the "Sultan of Sequins," has died at 87.
- He designed iconic costumes for Cher, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and Elton John.
- Mackie won a Tony Award, nine Emmys, and received three Oscar nominations.
- His Instagram account announced his passing on Monday.
- He designed Cher's famous 1986 Oscars "revenge" outfit.
- Mackie also designed Elton John's iconic Dodgers baseball outfit from 1975.
Bob Mackie, the celebrated costume and fashion designer renowned for his dazzling, sequin-embellished creations, has died at the age of 87. Known as the "Sultan of Sequins," Mackie's prolific career saw him dress some of the world's biggest stars, including Cher, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and Elton John. His work earned him a Tony Award, nine Emmy Awards, and three Academy Award nominations.
A statement shared on his Instagram account on Monday announced his passing, stating, "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 statement added, "His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world." Mackie's influence was particularly significant in Cher's career. He designed her unforgettable 1986 Oscars "revenge" outfit, a showgirl-inspired ensemble featuring a plumed mohawk headdress and a bare midriff, which became a landmark moment in fashion history. Cher explained in a 2024 documentary that the outfit was a form of "revenge" for not being nominated for her role in the film "Mask."
Sir Elton John expressed his admiration on Instagram, writing, "Every time I put something on that Bob made, I felt very, very special. His costumes were works of art, and he will go down as one of the most legendary designers ever in Hollywood." He highlighted Mackie's iconic Dodgers baseball outfit from 1975 as one of his memorable creations.
Singer Pink also shared her appreciation, recalling how "lucky" she was to be dressed by him for so long, describing him as "loving, wickedly funny and an absolute genius." Mackie continued to design until recently, with Sabrina Carpenter wearing one of his creations at last year's MTV Video Music Awards and Miley Cyrus donning a Mackie dress at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Born Robert Gordon Mackie in Monterey Park, California, in 1939, his career began as a sketch artist for French-American costume designer Jean Louis. One of his early assignments was sketching the dress Marilyn Monroe wore for her "Happy Birthday Mr. President" performance to John F. Kennedy in 1962. Mackie was married to singer and actress Lulu Porter from 1960 to 1963, with whom he had a son, Robin, who died in his early thirties from an Aids-related illness. He was in a long-term relationship with Iranian fashion designer Ray Aghayan from 1963 until Aghayan's death in 2011.