Legendary Designer Bob Mackie Dies At 87: His Designs Were Worn By Celebrities Over Decades, From Diana Ross And Cher To RuPaul, Marilyn Monroe And More

Bob Mackie, the visionary costume and fashion designer whose dazzling, unapologetically glamorous creations defined the visual landscape of American entertainment for more than half a century, died Monday. He was 87.

His passing was confirmed in a statement posted to his official Instagram page on Monday, September 14, 2026. “Bob lived his life to the absolute fullest, completely achieving his lifelong dream of being a designer,” the statement read. A cause of death was not immediately provided.

Known globally by nicknames like the “Sultan of Sequins” and the “Guru of Glitter,” Mackie’s influence spanned television, film, theater, and the music industry. He was a master of theatrical illusion, famous for using flesh-toned mesh, strategic beadwork, and thousands of rhinestones to create unforgettable, gravity-defying garments.

Mackie’s most enduring professional partnership was with Cher, a collaboration that began in the late 1960s and lasted more than 50 years. He designed her most boundary-pushing ensembles, including the infamous sheer, feathered black look she wore to the 1986 Academy Awards, and is widely credited with pioneering the modern “naked dress” trend that remains a staple of Hollywood red carpets today.

On television, Mackie’s genius was on display weekly on The Carol Burnett Show. Over the program’s 11-season run, he designed thousands of costumes, most notably the legendary “curtain rod” dress worn by Burnett in the 1976 Gone with the Wind parody, “Went with the Wind!”—a garment now preserved in the Smithsonian Institution.

Throughout his prolific, decades-long career, Mackie dressed an unparalleled roster of icons, including Diana Ross, Elton John, Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, RuPaul, and Liza Minnelli. His work earned him nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award for The Cher Show in 2019, and three Academy Award nominations. In 2019, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) honored him with the prestigious Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mackie’s legacy continues to shape contemporary style. In recent years, a new generation of superstars, including Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift, have frequently pulled from his vast archives or commissioned custom pieces inspired by his historic archives.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. He leaves behind an indelible legacy as the man who taught Hollywood how to sparkle.