Hollywood designer Bob Mackie, known for making stars such as Cher and Elton John sparkle, died on Monday at 87, according to a post on his official Instagram account.
His career spanned five decades and included designing a Barbie doll clothes collection.
Born in 1939 into a middle-class family in Monterey Park, California, he was nominated for more than 30 Emmys, winning nine. He received Academy Award nominations for costumes worn in the films “Lady Sings the Blues,” “Funny Lady,” and “Pennies From Heaven.”
“His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world,” his team said in an Instagram post. His cause of death was not stated.
He worked with many of Hollywood and the music world’s biggest stars, but his most memorable work is his collaborations with singer Cher. He designed the ‘naked’ dress the singer wore to attend the Met Gala in 1975 (seen above) and many other risque looks the singer has become known for.
Cher marked Mackie’s passing with a post on X: “My dear Bob has gone up to heaven,” she wrote. “Knowing him, he’s bringing Sequins, Beads, & his sketch pad. Good nite sweet Prince.”
Mackie was known for sequins, rhinestones and glitter, but also humor. The highlight of his 11-year run for The Carol Burnett Show was the “curtain dress” worn by Burnett in a sketch parodying 1939 film classic “Gone with the Wind.” The costume, now in the collection of the Smithsonian’s American History Museum, included a brass curtain rod balanced on Burnett’s shoulders and a bit of valance worn as a hat.
Liza Minelli told PEOPLE Mackie began dressing her for her late mother’s The Judy Garland Show, and joked he “even even forgave me for making him create my wedding outfit for my last marriage to — what’s his name?”
Minelli said he had known her and dressed her through different chapters of her life.
“He made me laugh,” she remembers. “And he remained my friend. Another person joining the choir is the hardest damn thing about living this long. I’m going to miss you, Bob. But heaven just got one hell of a costume department.”
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Elton John shared his sadness at Mackie’s passing on Instagram, alongside some favourite images of looks the designer had created over John’s career.
“Bob had extraordinary vision and the workmanship was unreal,” he said in the post on the social media platform. “I don’t think I ever wore a Bob Mackie outfit and had anything fall off – not a sequin or a rhinestone or anything. ”
” In a sea of ego, he seemed to have none. One of the most courteous, incredible people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Thank you Bob.”
Stylist Law Roach, who dressed Zendaya in several Bob Mackie vintage looks, paid tribute too.
“Thank you to my fashion father and one of the greatest designers in the history of American fashion,” Roach wrote on Instagram.
