Legendary American costume designer Bob Mackie, renowned for his dazzling creations for some of the biggest names in entertainment, has died at the age of 87.
Mackie’s death was announced Monday in a statement posted to his Instagram account.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr Bob Mackie passed away today,” the statement said, describing him as a designer who had fulfilled his lifelong dream of working in fashion and costume design.
Known as the “Sultan of Sequins,” Mackie built a remarkable career spanning several decades and became one of Hollywood’s most influential costume designers. He won a Tony Award, nine Emmy Awards and received three Oscar nominations.
Cher’s iconic ‘revenge’ dress
Mackie was perhaps best known for his long-running creative partnership with Cher.
Among his most famous creations was the striking outfit Cher wore at the 1986 Academy Awards. The look featured a dramatic feathered headdress, a bare midriff and a showgirl-inspired design.
The outfit became widely known as Cher’s “revenge” dress because she wore it after being overlooked for an Oscar nomination for her acclaimed performance in Mask.
“I didn’t get nominated for a movie that everyone thought I would actually win for, Mask,” Cher recalled in the 2024 documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion. “So was dressing that night for a kind of revenge.”
Mackie spoke about his creative relationship with Cher during a 2010 BBC interview, saying she stood apart from other entertainers of the era and could wear virtually anything.
His designs also played a major role in Cher’s television image. She was widely reported to have become the first woman to show her belly button on American television, with Mackie responsible for many of her memorable looks.
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A career shaped by Hollywood legends
Born Robert Gordon Mackie in Monterey Park, California, in 1939, Mackie began his career as a sketch artist for costume designer Jean Louis.
One of his early assignments involved sketching the dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she famously sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to US President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
Mackie later became a sought-after designer for entertainers including Tina Turner, Dolly Parton and Elton John.
He married singer and actress Lulu Porter in 1960, but the couple divorced three years later. They had a son, Robin, who died in his early thirties from an AIDS-related illness.
Mackie later had a long-term relationship with Iranian fashion designer Ray Aghayan, which lasted from 1963 until Aghayan’s death in 2011.
Reflecting on his long career in a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Mackie said he believed he was the oldest living designer in Hollywood.
When asked whether he would ever retire, his answer was simple: “I hope not.”
His influence on entertainment fashion, particularly through his work with Cher and other iconic performers, leaves behind a lasting legacy.
