Bob Mackie, the fashion and costume designer known for his work with Cher, Tina Turner, and Carol Burnett, died today at age 87. He was celebrated for creating flamboyant and revealing designs for some of the biggest stars in entertainment.
Mackie amassed over 30 Emmy nominations and nine wins, and received three Oscar nominations for his costume designs in “Lady Sings the Blues,” “Funny Lady,” and “Pennies From Heaven.” In 2002, he was the first costume designer inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. He began his career drawing for Jean Louis and assisting Edith Head.
He created memorable looks for Carol Burnett’s sketch show, including the iconic “curtain-rod” dress from a “Gone With the Wind” spoof. He also designed costumes for “The Judy Garland Show,” John Travolta in “Staying Alive,” and the “Star Wars Holiday Special.”
Mackie was particularly known for his designs for Cher, including an elaborate black, midriff-baring two-piece ensemble with a Mohawk headpiece worn to the 1986 Oscars. He also created splashy gowns for her appearances on “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” “Cher,” and “The Sonny and Cher Show.” Other stars he dressed included Whitney Houston, Barbara Eden, Bette Midler, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, Joan Rivers, Mitzi Gaynor, Elton John, the Jackson Five, and Robert Goulet.
According to a 2000 interview with the Archive of American Television, Mackie said of Cher’s risqué outfits, “I started it all, I’m afraid.” He explained that Cher saw a costume he’d made for Goldie Hawn and wanted something similar for her nightclub act. He continued, “We started showing off her midriff [because] she had — she still has — the most incredible torso. It’s long-waisted and beautiful, and she looks really good that way. And so it became, what part of her body are we going to show in this dress and that dress and every week, it got to be, you know, try to top yourself and the audience reacted well to it and they loved it.”
Born in Monterey Park, Calif., Mackie collaborated with his life partner, costume designer Ray Aghayan, who died in 2011. He is survived by a son, Robin, who died of AIDS-related causes. A statement on Mackie’s Instagram page read, “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. His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”
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