Bob Mackie, Legendary Designer Who Dressed Cher and Carol Burnett, Dies at 87

Bob Mackie, the costume designer whose sequined, feathered, and beaded creations became synonymous with Hollywood glamour for more than six decades, died on Sunday. He was 87. No cause of death was immediately disclosed.

The Making of a Designer

Mackie trained at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles before beginning his professional career as a sketch artist. He cut his teeth working under legendary designer Edith Head, learning the craft of Hollywood costume from one of its most celebrated practitioners.

His ascent accelerated when he took on the role of lead costume designer for The Carol Burnett Show, a weekly variety series that ran from 1967 to 1978. Over 11 seasons, Mackie created thousands of looks for Burnett and her regular cast — elaborate parodies, show-stopping musical numbers, and genuine glamour in equal measure. The work earned him repeated Emmy nominations, and he would go on to collect nine Emmy Awards across his career.

The Curtain Dress

No piece better illustrated the wit and craftsmanship Mackie brought to his work than the iconic “curtain dress” he created for Carol Burnett. Inspired by a moment from Gone with the Wind, the gown was fashioned to include a curtain rod across the shoulders — a visual joke that became one of the most recognized images in television history. That dress is now in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.

Dressing the Icons

Mackie’s most enduring partnership was with Cher, who became both his most frequent collaborator and his most visible canvas. Over four decades, he created costumes that defined her public image: the barely-there chiffon gown she wore at the 1974 Met Gala, the towering beaded spiderweb mohawk she debuted at the 1986 Emmy Awards, and countless other looks that made headlines worldwide. Together, they redefined what glamour could look like on a public stage.

He brought the same precision to a wide range of other performers. Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and Barbra Streisand were among the artists he dressed over the years. Each commission reflected his ability to understand not just fabric and structure, but the specific persona each performer projected on stage.

From Emmy to Tony

Mackie’s work extended beyond television into film and theater. He received multiple Academy Award nominations for his film costume work and, in 2019, added a Tony Award for Best Costume Design to his collection when The Cher Show opened on Broadway. The musical offered Mackie a chance to revisit some of his most celebrated designs for the stage.

In his later years, he remained a sought-after collaborator among a new generation of performers. Miley Cyrus, Zendaya, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift were among the contemporary artists who wore his designs at major events, a sign that his aesthetic had not dated.

Remembering Mackie

News of Mackie’s death drew tributes from across the entertainment industry. Actress Alyssa Milano paid her respects on social media, as did designer Isaac Mizrahi and actress Kristin Chenoweth. An official statement from his team offered a simple assessment of what he had accomplished: “His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever.”

Mackie was born in Monterey Park, California, in 1939. Over the course of his career, he became something larger than a costume designer. He was an architect of image for some of the most photographed performers in the world, someone who understood that clothing could be a form of storytelling. The pieces he created were not simply worn. They were performed.

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